Intergenerational solidarity

Interview Project Part 3 Instructions

OBJECTIVE: Now that you have conducted and transcribed your interviews, you should read through them analytically and write a 3-4 page paper where you answer the following question:

After reading your answers and your family member's answers to the interview questions regarding relationships, marriage, and family, do you think that intergenerational solidarity has changed greatly between generations?

In answering this question, you should include specific information. First, you should introduce your paper by discussing the topic of intergenerational solidarity and its components (see Chapter 10 of the Cherlin textbook for a review, but your descriptions of this concept should be in your own words). At the end of your introduction you should state whether you think that intergenerational solidarity has changed.

Next, you should describe our data collection methods. What guidelines were given for interviews? How did you choose your interviewee? Where and how did you conduct the interview? This paragraph should conclude with a sentence that restates your position regarding the state of social change in solidarity and those topics where you see the most (or least) change.

Next, you should write one paragraph about each of the elements of intergenerational solidarity (contact, affinity, assistance) where you use examples from your answers and your family member's answers to the interview questions*. You should discuss aspects where you found differences (or similarities) across the interviews. Good examples will focus on perspectives, not just definitions. You should systematically discuss your answers and your interviewee's answers. You may use direct quotes to support your claims, but these quotes should be no more than one sentence in length. All of writing should be interpreted and written in your own words.

*To prepare, I encourage you to get three different colored highlighters and read through your answers and your family member's answers to the interview questions and color code them by the three aspects of intergenerational solidarity.

Your conclusion paragraph should discuss what these intergenerational differences (or similarities) mean for social change in society. If you think that we have experienced little change, do you think this is leading our society in the right direction? If you think we have experienced great change, do you think these changes have benefited society? What kinds of changes might we expect if this project were conducted again in 15 years where you are the interviewee?