Study Timeline
Participants
Figure 3-6 Study timeline illustrating each student’s degree of participation.
(Member checking is a technique used to ensure validity and reliability in
qualitative data analysis. It is discussed in detail in Chapter 5.)
Pre-semester (BGR) interviews were conducted at locations convenient
to the student volunteers (e.g. dormitory lounges, cafeterias, etc.) while mid-semester first- and second-year interviews were conducted in the researchers’
offices. All interviews were audio-taped and later transcribed. At the beginning
of each interview, students were reminded of the motivation behind the study,
the measures that would be taken to maintain their confidentiality, and the
voluntary nature of their participation. Semi-structured interviews were
conducted with each participant based on the interview guide corresponding to
the interview in which they were taking part (Appendices C, D, and E).
Interviews ranged in length from 40 to 150 minutes.