GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES LIVING IN DE-INDUSTRIALIZED MICHIGAN CITIES
BY JOHN GIRDWOOD
INTERVIEW – Instrument – 2
Introduction:
This interview will take approximately 30 to 90 minutes. After a few demographic questions,
there will be five remaining sections. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this
interview. Please remember that this interview is voluntary. I would prefer that you answer all
the questions completely to help ensure accuracy of the interview results, but remember that all
the questions are optional. If you feel any pressure, if you have been coerced, or given
incentive in any way, stop now. You must be 18 years or older or under parental supervision to
participate.
Please state your race/ethnicity. If you want, I can provide categories to choose from.
 American Indian or Alaska Native;
 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander;
 Asian;
 White;
 Black or African American;
 Some Other Race
Did you live in a city, suburb, or rural
area during YOUR TEENAGE LIFE?
Will you primarily live in a city, suburb, or rural area
during YOUR ADULT LIFE?
 City
 City
 Suburb
 Suburb
 Rural
 Rural
Are you CURRENTLY one of the following:
Are you CURRENTLY one of the following:
(You can choose more than one)
(You can choose more than one)
 Retired or former athlete
 Player
 Professional athlete
 Coach
 College athlete
 Parent
 High school athlete
 None of these
The interview questions begin now…
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES LIVING IN DE-INDUSTRIALIZED MICHIGAN CITIES
BY JOHN GIRDWOOD
INTERVIEW – Instrument – 2a – Point of Choice – Concept of Value
This is a long-form interview. The researcher can choose from any of the following questions
and will check the box when a question is asked. Not all questions will be asked.
Process of Life Course Decisions
 Growing up, can you tell me about how you made important life decisions?
o
Interviewer can indicate the purpose of the question is about decision process.
 As a youth, what were some of the reasons you chose to participate in sports?
o
Interviewer can offer possibilities: family/school/friends/career/other
Placing Value on Elements of Life Course Decisions
 Where you lived as a teenager, was “where you were from” important to people?
o
Interviewer can ask the respondent for explanation of why/reasoning.
 Were there any people in that place that valued sports more than education? Who?
 Did you ever choose sports or education when you really valued the other more?
 Where you are from, what are some of the reasons that teenagers make decisions?
Conflict Between Inclination and Resources
 Tell me about a time when you or others wanted to participate in sports, but could not.
 Have you, or anybody you know, ever been unable to play sports?
o
Interviewer can offer possibilities: no money for equipment, cut from team, etc.
 What do you do, or how do you feel, if/when you experience a conflict of sports/life?
Socio-Economic Status


Talk to me a little bit more about where you grew up (predominantly)
o
Were most of your peers able to purchase the sports equipment that they wanted?
o
Did you ever see a really good player who had ragged clothes or equipment?
o
In your opinion, do you think having money can add to a player’s level of success?
Can you talk about any differences you saw around where you grew up, like:
o
Was there ever a really good player you knew who just didn’t care about sports?
o
Was there ever a really good player you knew who just didn’t care about school?
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES LIVING IN DE-INDUSTRIALIZED MICHIGAN CITIES
BY JOHN GIRDWOOD
INTERVIEW – Instrument – 2b – Choice Basis – General Economic Constellation
This is a long-form interview. The researcher can choose from any of the following questions
and will check the box when a question is asked. Not all questions will be asked.
General Travel and Movement
 Growing up, was money important to your family?
o
Interviewer can indicate this means not necessarily the most important thing.
 As a youth, did your family travel? Did your family travel/vacations depend on money?
o
Interviewer can offer possibilities: visits to grandparents, museums, parks, hotels
Potential for “Chain Migration”
 Did you see people, in your youth, who moved away to chase a dream or job?
o
Interviewer can ask the respondent for explanation of why/reasoning.
 Conversely, did you see people who stayed in the same place to maintain a career?
 Did you know anybody from your hometown that was successful in sports?
 How did that influence you, knowing (or not knowing) of successful athletes overseas?
 What (or who) would be the biggest influence for you to consider living overseas?
Conflict Between Inclination and Resources
 Why do you think people tend to remain in place: lack of desire and/or lack of money?
 Why do you think athletes tend to fail at sports: lack of desire and/or lack of money?
 If you yourself wanted to succeed at sports, do you have enough money and/or desire?
Socio-Economic Status and Family


Talk to me a little bit more about your family (however your define “family”)
o
Were there a lot of family members near you when you were growing up?
o
Did you have a lot of family connections to your hometown or did that matter?
o
If you had to, for financial reasons, would you leave your family for a job overseas?
Can you talk about any differences you saw around where you grew up, like:
o
Were the family bonds stronger in your area or in a neighboring town or city?
o
Is there any relationship between a family’s income and whether or not (or how
long) they stay together?
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES LIVING IN DE-INDUSTRIALIZED MICHIGAN CITIES
BY JOHN GIRDWOOD
INTERVIEW – Instrument – 2c – Choice Outcomes – Analysis
This is a long-form interview. The researcher can choose from any of the following questions
and will check the box when a question is asked. Not all questions will be asked.
General Travel and Movement
 Growing up, did you ever see someone move out-of-state then come back?
o
Interviewer can indicate the purpose of the question is about decision process.
 As a youth, did you know of people who were trying to get out of your hometown?
o
Interviewer may follow-up with: Why or why not?
Potential for “Chain Migration”
 As a teenager, did you know anybody that moved out-of-state? Family members?
o
Interviewer can ask the respondent for explanation of why/reasoning.
 If you knew somebody that moved out-of-state, do you think it was a good idea?
 Did you know anybody from your hometown that moved overseas? Why or why not?
 If you knew somebody that moved overseas, do you think it was a good idea?
 Would you ever want to follow in a family member’s footsteps and live where they lived?
Conflict Between Inclination and Resources
 Do you think that those people you’ve seen move out of town had more money than you?
 In general, do you think that athletes who go play out-of-state in college are better than
those who stay in Michigan and attend a local college or university?
Socio-Economic Status and Family


Talk to me a little bit more about where you grew up (predominantly)
o
Did you see a lot of high school kids go to private colleges or universities? Why?
o
Did you have a lot of friends who chose their college/university based on finances?
o
Is it important for your family members to go to college and/or to make money?
Can you talk about any differences you saw around where you grew up, like:
o
Did you see financial differences in your friends whose parents went to college?
o
Did you see financial differences in your friends whose parents worked in factories?
o
Did you see financial differences in your friends whose parents were athletes?
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES LIVING IN DE-INDUSTRIALIZED MICHIGAN CITIES
BY JOHN GIRDWOOD
INTERVIEW – Instrument – 2d – Choice Outcomes – Links to Function
This is a long-form interview. The researcher can choose from any of the following questions
and will check the box when a question is asked. Not all questions will be asked.
General Travel and Movement
 Growing up, how much did you try to just get out of the place your were?
o
Interviewer can indicate this means immediately or in the long-term.
 As a youth, was there any reason for you to move far away? Across the world?
o
Interviewer can offer possibilities: academic year/study abroad/summer/forever
Potential for “Chain Migration”
 As a teenager, did any of your high school friends move out-of-state or overseas?
o
Interviewer can ask the respondent for explanation of why/reasoning.
 As a teenager, did any of your high school friends play sports? What sports?
 As a teenager, did any of your family members move out-of-state or overseas?
 As a teenager, did any of your family members play sports? What sports?
 Did any of your friends or family members influence you to consider moving overseas?
Conflict Between Inclination and Resources
 Would you consider playing sports overseas as a career? Why or why not?
 Are you doing things currently to try to play sports overseas as a career? Why?
 During your life, what do you expect to be the main reason that your sports career ends?
Socio-Economic Status of Friends and Family


Talk to me a little bit more about your professional plans other than playing sports
o
Do you have a career that you are planning for, besides sports?
o
How do you define success? Do you view success as making money or happiness?
o
With family and sports or career, would you ever choose one over the other? Why?
Can you talk about the reasons why you saw people return to your hometown:
o
Did some people have a lot of friends and/or family support? A job to return to?
o
Did you ever see someone from your hometown stay or leave and regret it?
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES LIVING IN DE-INDUSTRIALIZED MICHIGAN CITIES
BY JOHN GIRDWOOD
INTERVIEW – Instrument – De-Industrialized Michigan Cities – Metaphors
This is a long-form interview. The researcher can choose from any of the following questions
and will check the box when a question is asked. Not all questions will be asked.
General Travel and Movement
 Growing up, how much did you want to work locally? Were there jobs available?
o
Interviewer can indicate this means your dream job or what job you expect to get.
 As a youth, how likely was it for your peers to grow up and get a job in the same state?
o
Interviewer can offer possibilities: most people/some/it doesn’t matter
Potential to “Represent” or “Defend Turf”
 Do you think that people in Michigan have an industrial tie to the state?
 Do you think the Michigan economy hinges on the success or failure of the auto industry?
o
If the economy is so good/bad in Michigan, why do you think people stick around?
 Are people more likely to stay in Michigan because they want to “represent” their state?
 Are people more likely to stay in Michigan because they want to “defend their turf”?
 What does that mean to you, to “represent” your city?
o
Interviewer can refer to the hip hop song by Young Jeezy: “Put On for My City”
 What does that mean to you, to “defend” your turf? Is that just a gang thing?
Conflict Between Inclination and Resources
 Can Michigan (or its cities) go on successfully without the automotive industry? How?
 Can Michigan families live in financial stability without the automotive industry? How?
Main Elements of This Study
 Do you have the resources to move internationally? Now? When will/did/do you?
 Do you have the desire to move internationally? Now? When will/did you?
 Do you know about the options to move internationally? How? When will/did you?
 Do you know about the financial outcomes of moving internationally? When will/did you?
 For you, is moving internationally a realistic goal or life choice? For who would it be?
This is the end of the interview. Thank you for participating!