English Version, Social Interaction Diary Instructions
Describing your social interactions
For this study, a social interaction occurs when you are with other people. A conversation is probably the best example of an interaction, although interactions do not have to include constant conversation, for example, going for a walk with someone is an interaction. Just being with other people and not interacting with them is not an interaction. For example, sitting with someone and watching television and not talking with that person would not be an interaction. During the two weeks of this study, we would like you to describe every social interaction you have that lasts ten minutes or more. If you simply say hello to someone and then move on, that is not an interaction. Whatever you are doing, wherever you are, describe your social interactions using the record. It is most important that you keep the record everyday, all the time. People in other studies have found it useful to update the record in the afternoon sometime and in the evening before they retire. Regardless, you need to update your record every day, at least once a day. Even if you feel that a certain day was completely routine with nothing out of the ordinary, describe the interactions. For example, if you have lunch with the same people every day, record it every day.
If You Miss A Day: If you miss a day (completely), please continue the study the next day as usual. DO NOT make up a missed day by completing the interaction forms the next day.
Confidentiality: The data and results from this study will be kept strictly confidential. Your name will never be associated with any of your responses or with the results of the study.
A Few Other Notes: During the first day or two it may take longer to complete the forms, after that, it will take only 5-10 minutes. Your thoughtful participation each day will be greatly appreciated.
To make it easy for you to record your interactions we have devised a form that you can use. This form also helps us because it provides clear descriptions of your social interactions. The form is easy to complete, but we have included the following instructions in case any questions arise.
Date: ALWAYS record the day and month when the interaction occurred. You need to include this information every time you fill out the form, NOT just on the first form of that day.
Time: Enter the time the interaction started (00:00-24:00).
Length: Record how long the interaction lasted in hours and/or minutes.
Nature: Select the activity that best describes what was going on. The choices are:
Conversation: Just talking.
Relaxation: When you are doing something with people such as sports, hobbies, etc.
Work: An interaction at your job or that is part of your work. Including studying if you are a student.
Meal: Eating, snacking, etc.
Romantic: spending time with a romantic friend.
Celebration: A party, etc., could be large or small.
Meeting: Some type of formal meeting (social club, etc.)
Religious activity
Other: None of the above.
There may be times when two activities are equally descriptive, e.g., a work and eating. In such cases, select both/ as many as apply.
Location: Select the best description of where the interaction occurred.
Language: What language were most people speaking most of the time during the interaction?
Other people who were there:
Initials: Record the initials of the other people in the interaction. If two people have the same initials distinguish them with a middle initial (if you know it) or the second letter of their last name. As an example, if you list Jack Kramer as JK then James Kennedy would be JKE. The most important thing is to be consistent. Once you describe James Kennedy as JKE always do that, otherwise we will have no idea whom certain initials represent. If you do not know someone's name, put two question marks for his or her initials. If you know one initial and not the other, put down the one you know and put a question mark for the other.
Sex: Indicate the gender of each person who was present.
Age: Provide the age of each person. If you do not know it, guess.
Relationship: Select the term that best describes the relationship you have with each person who was present. If two terms apply, for example co-worker and close friend, select the one that best represents how you think of the person.
Ethnicity: Select the term that best describes the ethnicity of each person who was present.
Group: If there were more than three other people present, indicate the number (excluding yourself) of women and men. Describe the three individuals who were the most important to you.
Your reactions to the interaction.
For each interaction, describe your reactions to it. Use the following guidelines when responding. For interactions in which there was more than one other person, provide your general reaction.
For all ratings, use the following scale: 1 = not at all/ very little, 9 = a lot/ very much.
Enjoyment: How much did you enjoy the interaction.
Intimacy: How intimate was the interaction to you.
Influential: How much control do you feel you had during the interaction. Influence can include such things as deciding what is to be done or talked about, changing the topic of conversation, etc.
Respected: How much do you think the other people who were present respected you as a person.
Liked: How much do you think the other people who were present liked you as a person.
Accepted by others: How accepted did you feel by the others who were present. How much did you feel part of the interaction?
Free to exchange opinions and ideas: Feeling free means that you were not worried about the negative reactions of others, that you felt comfortable telling people how you thought or felt, and so forth.
Emotions: How did you feel during the interaction?
During the study, keep in mind that these are only guidelines. There are no right and wrong answers.
Long interactions: There may be occasions when you are with one person or a group of people for an extended period of time. If you feel that was really just one interaction, record it as such. However, often, a long interaction should be divided into shorter interactions. For example:
- You and a close friend spend 3 or 4 (or perhaps more) hours together and during this time you do different things. For example: you might have a meal together, watch TV or go to a movie, and study. This would mean you would record three separate interactions.
- Sometimes, people will enter and leave an interaction. For example, you are with a friend for one hour just talking. Another friend joins you for 20 minutes and then leaves. This would be two interactions, one with one person, and one with two people. You should fill out one set of ratings for each event.
Links
English Version, Interaction Diary Form
Newcomer Study Homepage