Deviance Gossip Study 2 Script
(note: Steps 8 onwards refer to an unrelated study)
Same for all conditions:
1. Greet participants upon arrival
2. Seat them in front of the iPad where they will watch the experimental video.
3. Distribute consent forms and participation sheets and when ready collect
completed consent forms
a. “In this study, we are looking at the different ways in which people
communicate. We're particularly interested in how people communicate
depending on the different kinds of media they're exposed to. In the first
part of this study we would like to collect data related to the video that
you will watch after this introduction. We are looking to see if the styles
of communication are related to the type of media you're exposed to, in
this case, video footage. When the video recording is over you will have 5
minutes time to briefly talk to your partner about the video and this
conversation will be recorded. You'll then be asked to complete a short
questionnaire about the video.
b. In the second part of the study, you'll be separated and asked to come up
with and record a short story. This short story may be used later on in the
study for other students to listen to so please keep it anonymous.
c. Finally, in the last part of the study you'll be asked to listen to a story
another student who took part in the study has recorded. Then I'll ask you
to fill in one more questionnaire and then we'll be done.
d. Now, please pay close attention to the following video.”
4. When the video is finished: “Now you have 5 minutes to talk to your partner about
the video that you’ve just watched. I will let you know when the time is up so feel
free to keep talking until I ask you to stop. You can talk about anything you like
regarding what you just saw, and your conversation will be recorded so we can
analyse it later.”
5. When 5 minutes pass: “Thank you very much. Now I would like to invite you to
complete a short questionnaire and after that we will continue with second part
of the study. If one of you can sit here and the other one can come with me, I’ll
find you a separate place to sit so you can have a little privacy.
6. Instructions for the first questionnaire: “Now could you please fill in this short
questionnaire about the first part of the study. Take as much time as you need but
please, make sure to answer all questions. Feel free to ask if there is anything
that you don’t understand. Otherwise, let me know when you finish and we will
continue with part 2.”
7. Take the other participant to a separate desk so they cannot copy answers. Wait
until they've both completed the survey. Once finished, collect the questionnaires.
It is important to keep the questionnaire separate from the consent sheets in order
to preserve anonymity.
8. Thank you for that. This next section of the study looks at how we communicate
when we are using audio media. For this part of the study we need you to come up
with and record a short story about someone you know (this could be something
that happened to them, or something that they have done). The story should be
real and not too complicated (in other words, it shouldn’t take more than a couple
of minutes to tell). It should be the kind of story you'd enjoy telling to your
friends during a normal conversation; it might be the kind of story that a friend
enjoyed telling to you during a recent conversation. This story may be used later
in our study for other participants to listen to. Because of this please make sure
that you respect confidentiality and that no one in your story identifiable (i.e.,
don’t give their name). I'll give you some time now think of a suitable story; if it
helps, think about the conversations that you have recently had with your friends
and the stories that you have told each other. You can also write notes for
yourself so that it's easy for you to remember it when we're recording it. Let me
know when you're ready and I'll help you make the recording.
9. Once the participant is ready, just help to set up the recording and explain how to
start/finish the recording process: “Ready? Perfect. Let me know when you're ready
to start and I'll start the recording. Once you're finished telling your story let me
know and we can continue.
10. Start the recording and state unique recording code. Stop recording once
participant is done.
11. Then, swap participants so the other person can write their piece and record it
12. When the participants are finished, bring them both inside, sit them at an iPad
with headphones choose the appropriate condition file, and ask them to play the
recording: “Great. Thank you for that. Now you'll hear a story recorded by another
student. Please, listen carefully.”
13. “Thank you, we are almost finished. Last thing I would like to ask you is to fill in
this questionnaire. Again, please fill this out as best as possible.”
14. When the first participant is finished, he/she will be given a debrief sheet
covering the true purpose of the study and released.