SELECTIVE MAJORS STUDY INTERVIEW PROTOCOL* (voluntary change)
The purpose of this research study is to gather information from students like you who left a selective major and selected a new major at the university. I am particularly interested in the resources you relied upon during this change, including what help you had from others, your inner strength, how you viewed the transition, and the actions you took to deal with this change. Please answer each question as it relates to your transition, starting with the decision to change your major, and selecting and enrolling in a new academic degree program. I will be asking questions about both the resources you used in the transition, and the resources you thought were most valuable- which may or may not be the same answers. As a reminder, all responses will be anonymous and confidential.
How did you find out about the study?
What would you like your pseudonym to be, as all responses are anonymous?
(Turn on recorder) Today is (date) and this is an interview with (pseudonym), a student at the University of __________________.
Have you had a chance to read the Informational Letter which gives the details of the research study? Do you have any questions that I can answer now?
Do I have your permission to digitally record your interview today?
BACKGROUND QUESTIONS (7 questions)
I’d like to start by asking you some background questions about you and your interest in the selective major.
How long have you been a student here? Did you come to the University as a first-year student or did you transfer in from another institution?
How old are you? How do identify yourself in re: race and ethnicity? Are you considered an in- state or an out-of-state student?
Why did you choose to attend this university? Was it your first choice?
Did you expect to change your major? Why or why not?
When did you declare your selective major? How many semesters were you in the major?
How did you decide on the selective major? What people or experiences, if any, influenced your decision to choose that particular major?
Did you have any difficulties in courses required for the selective major? What assistance from the university, if any, did you seek to help you with difficulties? (meetings with academic advisers and/or instructors, peer leaders, etc.)
INITIAL REACTIONS TO LEAVING A SELECTIVE MAJOR (6 questions)
We’re going to shift gears now, focusing on when you decided to leave your previous major. What were the reasons why you decided to leave the selective major?
What else was going on in your life when you left the selective major?
How did you identify the choices you had for a new major? What people or information did you use, if any, in selecting your new major?
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What university offices, staff or faculty did you consult with during the transition process of leaving the selective major and selecting a new major?
Who was the first person(s) you told after you decided to change your major? How did you tell them?
Which resources would you say were most valuable during the time you were first dealing with leaving the selective major? Resources might include the help you had from others, your inner strength, how you viewed the situation, and the actions you initially took to deal with the change of major.
DEALING WITH IMMEDIATE DECISIONS (6 questions)
These next few questions are about your decision to remain at this university and change your major, rather than transfer elsewhere.
When you decided to leave the major, did you consider transferring to another university? Why or why not?
If you did consider transferring elsewhere, did you plan to continue pursuing the same selective major at the new university?
What resources, if any, did you use in making the decision to remain here rather than transfer elsewhere? (family, friends, university staff/faculty, information from the bulletin, departmental websites, etc.)
Which resources would you say were most valuable during the time you were dealing with immediate decisions you had to make after leaving the selective major? Again, resources might include the help you had from others, your inner strength, how you viewed the situation, and the actions you initially took to deal with the change of major.
MOVING THROUGH THE TRANSITION(4 questions)
I’d like to have you talk about the different resources you may have used during the transition of leaving a selective major and selecting and enrolling in a new major.
Did you run into barriers or obstacles during the transition of leaving the previous major and choosing a new major? How did you navigate those barriers or obstacles?
Who did you lean on for support during the transition process of leaving your previous major and enrolling in the new major? How did they support you during this time?
What resources did the university offer you during the transition of leaving your previous major and selecting and enrolling in a new major? What university resources did you use?
WRAP UP QUESTIONS (4 questions)
What, if anything, could the university have done differently to support you in the transition of leaving your previous major and selecting and enrolling in a new major? What, if anything, could your previous department/college have done differently to support you in the transition?
What advice would you give to students who are leaving a selective major and are facing the same transition that you experienced?
OVERALL, which resources would you say are most valuable during the transition of leaving a selective major and selecting and enrolling in a new major? Just to remind you, resources might include the help you had from others, your inner strength, how you viewed the situation, and the actions you initially took to deal with the change.
Is there anything else that you would like to tell me about your transition experience of leaving a selective major and selecting and enrolling in a new major that I didn’t ask?
Thank you again for making time today to talk with me about your transition experience. As a small token of appreciation for your time, I have a gift card to give to you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my dissertation study or the information you provided.
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