The great challenge of preparing for a qualitiative data collection is determining high quality questions to ask the subjects to hopefully get the information necessary for completion of the study. My current “rough” interview schedule is listed below. It is my hope to refine this schedule with the help of my students to develop a comprehensive research strategy.

The Process
· What kinds of things did you do before you selected the idea for your project?
· Who helped you prepare?
· Describe the process you went through to get your idea for your research project. How did you go from a general idea, to a focused problem/project?
· What were some of the rewards? Obstacles?
· How long did it take you to come up with the idea for your project?
· Who influenced you in determining the idea for your project? What was the contribution?
· What are some of the frustrations with coming up with your idea?
· What kind of advice would you give to another student who wanted to conduct research?
· What makes your project a good project?
· Name three adjectives that describe you as a person in terms of your science project.
· Many students conduct research, yet your project was selected to represent the State of Connecticut? What makes you more successful than all of the other students?

Creativity

· What is creativity?
· Are science and creativity related?
· How are you creative?
· When are you creative?

The Scientist

· How are scientists different/similar from artists/musicians? Journalists? Politicians? Wait staff? Salespeople?

• How are you different/similar to students who don’t conduct research, but may be of similar intellect?
• How are you different/similar to students who do research but have less experience than you do?