WP1 R&Dialogue

Protocol for the national stakeholder interviews

Index

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................

PHASE 1 – APPROACHING THE STAKEHOLDERS AND ORGANISING FOR THE INTERVIEW ............................

1.2. Introducing ourselves and the project................................................................................................1.2. How to contact the stakeholders........................................................................................................1.3. Exploring the interest and motivation to participate to the project.....................................................1.4. Introducing the interview...................................................................................................................1.5. Making an appointment for the interview..........................................................................................

PHASE 2 - MAKING THE INTERVIEW ...........................................................................................................

2.1. Getting the interview started.............................................................................................................3.3. During the interview: some useful notes............................................................................................3.4. After interview report........................................................................................................................3.5. Test interviews ..................................................................................................................................Notes........................................................................................................................................................

PHASE 3 – TRANSCRIPTION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ...................................................................

APPENDIXES .............................................................................................................................................

Appendix 1. Project leaflet........................................................................................................................Key communication messages identified during the Rome meeting.........................................................Appendix 2. Plan of activities at national level for outline to the stakeholders: what we are doing, what are the plans for the future............................................................................................................Appendix 3. Summary stakeholders’ participation to activities (to answer the question about what their participation could imply in terms of time and type of work)..........................................................Appendix 4. Question sheet (to be translated)........................................................................................Appendix 5. Informed consent form.......................................................................................................Appendix 6. Transcription instructions....................................................................................................

Introduction

The R&Dialogue project assumes that for starting the dialogue a good understanding of the position and outlook of the different stakeholder organisations can help the consortium members in the process of bringing them together and develop common objectives. Their aims, plans, ideas, fears, interests, thoughts and hopes… will be determinant of their participation. The interviews represent a tool to learn about all these aspects and will provide valuable information, raising our own awareness about where each stakeholder stands in the overall picture and helping us identify where factors of development lie.

Of all the actions that will be needed to gain stakeholders’ interest, the interviews are the most formalised. It is a task that requires quite some effort but an essential one:

It provides the data for a systematic study of cultural (socio-emotional) dimensions in the dialogue

It provides comparable data from the 10 European countries

Together with the repetition of the interviews that will be performed before the end of the project this task provides the means to study the development of cultural (socio-emotional) dimensions during the project life.

It provides data that can help the partners to find the best way to set the future activities in the project.

It provides data that can be shared with the stakeholders getting to know each other.

From the point of view of the stakeholders, making the interviews is a guarantee for them that the Project R&Dialogue will seriously take into account their perspective and value it in the dialogue process.

The R&Dialogue project has been written based on the observation that dialogue on the LC Technologies/Society, is something innovative, not much practiced in the countries involved in the project or not practiced with the methodology that this Project proposes to use and exchange (AD and AET). So this is one of the reasons why this project exists: to provide the opportunity to the consortium partners of focusing and exploring emotional/cultural points of view, what stakeholders feel/think about dialogue/LCT and promoting a common reflection upon it.. In other words, the project provides a structure to work on feelings and thoughts that build up the different perspectives. So the aim of the national interviews is to explore the stakeholders’ representations about the dialogue on the LCT/S, not to demonstrate if something that is in our mind is true or false. Of course, first of all, it is important to see what is in our mind about those issues so that we are more aware of the different aspects implied in

our own perspective. That’s the reason why the R&D project was structured to do first the consortium interviews.

In a wide perspective it is important to keep in mind that emotional dimensions are not so conscious, both in the individual and social field. Nevertheless a lot of theories and experiences point to their relevance. Of course a number of other dimensions (institutional, legal, economic, financial, etc.) are important, which have been much analysed since the last century, although not in their emotional component. The project has been formulated to approach in an innovative way the issue of LCT/S dialogue taking into account the emotional side of it.

There are many ways “to be” in an interview. In this case a rigid behavioural pattern is not indicated, rather it is required to get in the relationship: to get to know the person not just collect the answers, to get involved in what he/she says, reflecting him/her our curiosities about what he/she is saying to better understand. The specific way you say things is left to the creativity of the interviewer. What is instead important is that the interviewer has a clear idea of the objectives and scheme of the interview. Within this scheme there is room for natural and spontaneous interaction. It is preferable to avoid strict procedures like pre-prepared texts and rather have an open and spontaneous approach within the agreed framework.

Phase 1 – Approaching the stakeholders and organising for the interview

It should be always kept in mind that the interviews are part of the process for contacting and involving the stakeholders, i.e. establishing with them a collaborative relationship. This section of the protocol illustrates some considerations that can be useful to consortium members to have a clear idea of how the interviews are placed in the project context.

The type of interview that proposed in WP1 further enhances this concept, because the R&D project is really interested to what stakeholders have to say: we don’t want to pre-formulate our questions to give them the maximum possible freedom to structure the discourse based on what is important to them.

1.2. Introducing ourselves and the project

This point is very important, the success of the operation lies mostly in how the consortium members will introduce the project and their role in it; we need to make sure that we express the key communication concepts that we have identified.

There are at least 6 levels of this:

What the project is about (see appendix 1 - leaflet).

Plan of activities (appendix 2)

What the participation could imply in terms of time and type of work (see appendix 3). Nevertheless this should be just indicative and the stakeholders should be encouraged to express their own idea of what would be advisable, so that we can structure the activities also following their input.

Key messages, which we have identified together (see list of key concepts from the Rome workshop session).

Most important key concepts for i) our country; ii) our institute; iii) the particular stakeholder.

Key aspects of our own organisation and the role it plays in the project (on this point contact us if you like our counselling).

1.2. How to contact the stakeholders

Once we have made the stakeholder analysis we have to decide whether we need to follow a precise order in contacting the stakeholders and which order this should be. We should put particular care in contacting those stakeholders that are crucial for the project and its success. Here comes into play the communication strategy developed together with Gijs . If it is compatible with your communication strategy, it might be useful to interview less crucial stakeholders first, in order to become acquainted with the interview technique and the interview situation.

When we have a pre-existing relationship with the stakeholder, it should be easier. Nevertheless, it will be important to take the time to evaluate what is the role in which our institute is known and when necessary adjust the presentation of the project to make sure the stakeholder understands what is our role in relation to this precise project.

When there is no pre-existing relationship, evaluation is necessary to understand how to approach the stakeholder; it could be done through some channel common to both, where existing, or it might be necessary to explore whether such channel can be identified. This would probably be best, since a direct relationship, through people, might increase the probabilities of stimulating interest, but of course it depends on the motivation of the intermediary. Alternatively, a more formal approach can be taken, through mails and phone calls etc.; in this case good care must be taken with the materials sent presenting the project and the institute.

1.3. Exploring the interest and motivation to participate to the project

Contacting the stakeholders, presenting ourselves, explaining the project, asking about their willingness to express their specific point of view: establishing a relationship or when we already know them just introducing the project. Once having given the general idea of the project it might be useful to give some concrete details of what we would like to do and what we offer and the opportunity we want to create for the stakeholders through the activities that will be organised. A number of advantages could be envisaged: from participating to a European project thus having the possibility to place and understand issues within a wider perspective; participating to a project that for the first time enables people from ten different European countries to work together on cultural (socio-emotional dimensions) and how understanding them can help us in the path to a LCT society; having the unique opportunity to think together on key decision making processes, not just think how to make decisions but actually thinking on how we make them; new networking opportunities; the benefit of being part of a group that is set to develop a thinking that could guide our society in developing new solutions; the benefit of creating a transversal group, where one can meet people from other sectors of society that one would not meet otherwise; the benefit of being part of a close-knit group that with time might become influential on research agendas and at policy level, etc… (see appendix 1,2,3 and introduction of this document).

This phase can be variable and can be very different depending on our local culture.

In general to increase the probabilities of stakeholder interest and participation it is advisable to meet the stakeholder in person before making precise requests of collaboration, in some cases it might be necessary to have more meetings or different persons might need to be involved, depending on the importance of the stakeholder for the dialogue or other specific conditions. At the same time we need to explore, ask and learn about the stakeholder’s interest for what we are proposing. We could find out that some stakeholders might opt for a more passive participation, for instance willingness to be interviewed and participation to some event in the future, others might be happy to have a more active role joining the council, etc.

A presentation of the project to be given to bigger or smaller groups of stakeholders who might be interested, depending on specific evaluation factors, could be a good idea to optimize the resources. It would help cut down on first direct contact and probably also facilitate making the appointments for the interviews.

At this point in the project what is important is the willingness of the stakeholder to express its perspective through the interviews, to allow a systematic exploration of the variety of stakeholders’ perspectives that are relevant in the national culture, independently from the commitment to follow all the future activities in the project.

1.4. Introducing the interview

At some point we will explain to the stakeholders that to get the national dialogue started we would like first of all to hear their point of view. To do this in a systematic way, which also enables all of us to share with other countries, we are making interviews to all stakeholders and so we propose to interview them. . We are interested to hear from them right at the beginning of the project, to make sure that the project will take into account the most relevant aspects for them, in order to understand how to support the dialogue, taking into account the different perspectives. You can also say that the interview has an open and broad structure, instead of a list of pre-formulated questions, which aims at open, broad answers. Generally this is sufficient; if some stakeholder should ask for more details about the interviews we will of course give them. We know that it is very common to interview people applying a set of predefined questions, but precisely considering the context of the project and its aim, the explorative interview is much more appropriate.

1.5. Making an appointment for the interview

After the concept of making the interviews has been introduced, it can be explained that we would like the person to have enough time to tell us about their ideas and thoughts on the (topic) so we ask her/him if can dedicate to this about 1 hour without any interruption.

One hour is the reference time we assume here, which helps people stop and relax and take their time to satisfactorily express their thoughts. And this is also the availability we asked for. Is the standard max duration time of the interview. There will be people who will be quicker and people who will use all the given time available. We should account for people who like to talk longer and whenever possible allow for additional time, organising ourselves so that we

don’t have another engagement immediately after.

Since we expect it will be the interviewer who will go to place of the interviewee, remember to ask for a sufficiently quiet place, adequate for protecting the privacy and conducting the interview in a pleasant way. Explain to the stakeholders that we will protect the anonymity of the data collected with the interview.

Phase 2 - Making the interview

2.1. Getting the interview started

Present yourself if it is the first time you meet the stakeholder and thank him/her for taking time for this interview.

At the beginning of the meeting it’s useful to be sure that the place chosen for the meeting is quiet and appropriate to protect the privacy (for example, switch off the cell phone).

If you are in a position to choose where and how to sit down, choose at right angles to each other, around a table, better than opposite to each other.

Introduce the interview giving the leaflet to the interviewee and illustrating it briefly (especially if the person you are interviewing is not the one you have interacted with in phase 1).

Remember the rules of the interview – no predefined set of questions, rather an initial input on which we would like to have his/her broad perspectives (see appendix 4 – Text to share with the interviewee).

Tell him/her that since you want to capture anything she/he says, without forgetting or distorting anything he/she is going to tell you, ask if he/she agrees that you use an audio-recorder.

Ask to the stakeholder to read and to fill in the consent form.

Activate the audio-recorder, give him/her the paper where the rules and the question are written and tell him/her you have time until … for the interview. (We think that this introductory part will take about 5-10 minutes. So will have 55-50 minutes for the core of the interview).

Ask the question (see appendix 4)

Leave the floor to the interviewee.

We then take the time to listen to the stakeholder point of view, in complete freedom, without putting constraints or limits to where the reflection can bring to, inviting people to share their thoughts and ideas. The interviewer offers the opportunity to the interviewee of a slot of time where the only thing that matters is his/her point of view, where she/he can take the time to express it and reflect on it. From the point of view of the interviewer, this is the opportunity to learn about that person’s point of view, so we just take this time to give room to it and make questions that help us better understand it.

3.3. During the interview: some useful notes

Basically let the stakeholder talk in a free way about the question you asked him/her, this is the way to get an emotionally rich text.

Leave room to your own curiosity and interest for what the stakeholder might tell you and it will help you to listen. It’s like staying with a dear friend, that wants to tell us something very important to him/her, and we just listen without evaluating or judging what he/she says. Avoid any distraction; do not take notes (you can write down a note when you find useful, what is important is that you avoid being writing things down all the time), the audio-recorder is there and you can concentrate on what the interviewee is saying. Non-verbal behaviour doesn’t have to be annotated in this type of interview.

In our experience it should not be difficult to get the interview started and flowing but if necessary you can always go back to the paper with the question (appendix 4), tell her/him that may be it could help him/her to read the question on her/his own and take time to think…and that you are very interested to learn his/her specific perspective on these issues.

Feel comfortable to make questions that help you to better understand the point of view of the interviewee in relation to the theme. It means we can make questions to explore the theme but we should not take an active role starting to tell our own story or point of view or making questions that are not relevant for the theme of the interview.

If the interviewee should ask you some questions, try to answer without taking up too much time and if necessary remind the interviewee that there will be time in later meetings to exchange while today the time is dedicated to learn about his/her perspective.

If the interviewee seems to stop long before using all his/her time, make sure he/she feels he/she has really said all they want to say.

At the end of the interview remember to thank the interviewee for taking time for this interview and stop the audio-recorder before greetings.

3.4. After interview reportImmediately after the interview (or in any case within a short frame of time) the interviewer writes a short report which will be of help both during the interviewing period when we will need to exchange for supporting the partners and counselling them and for the interpretation

of the interviews.

The report should consist of your notes gathering your impressions and feelings while doing the interview, written in simple terms (no need for long reports).

3.5. Test interviews Test interviews will help you familiarize with the protocol. We invite all partners to do 1 or 2 interviews to check that all the necessary instructions are there, get acquainted with doing the interview, etc.

The after interview report is one of the most important tools for accompanying the test.

NotesInformed consent form

It needs to be signed by each interviewee (see the draft in the appendix 5 and please check whether it fits with your national legislation).

Recording

You will need a small digital recorder, highest quality possible since the interviews have to be integrally and literally transcribed.

Multiple interviewees

To be developed only if necessary. Refer to University of Rome and we will develop it together in relation to the specific situation.

Phase 3 – Transcription, analysis and interpretation

The partners will provide University of Rome the transcription of the interviews in the original language + illustrative variables collected (for each interview educational qualification, organisation, position see informed consent form).

Identification transcription agencies, test and verification about the work to be done – to be coordinated with UniRoma). When selecting the transcription agency, make a test to make sure they will do the work as required. Send them a 10 min audio file and check the transcription is made following the instructions. This is important since transcription agencies are used to another kind of work, so it might require additional interaction and clarifications before they are clear and ready about the work to be done.

Appendix 6 - Instructions for transcription (provided by University of Rome, to be translated and provided to the transcription agency)

Collaboration for analysis and interpretation: of course all partners will be involved in the elaboration of the outcomes. There will be different levels to this:

AET in collaboration with the single partner

Common discussion of all AETs in the consortium

Readings of the explicit content (in original language) of the interviews by the single partners/countries: here a variety of routes can be taken, partners with social research skills have the opportunity to make suggestions; University of Rome will provide assistance to partners who don’t have social research expertise.

Appendixes

Appendix 1. Project leaflet

R&Dialogue, building a low-carbon future together

Energy production based on coal, oil and gas has a profound impact on the world’s climate. We need to create a more sustainable future by reducing our energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency, increasing the share of renewable energies and by capturing and storing CO2. Awareness of the importance of reducing CO2 emissions is rising but the transition towards a low carbon society is slow and complex. The much needed fundamental change requires extensive research and involves many civil society stakeholders, each with vested interests that are often not aligned.

A dialogue between research and civil society is essential to move towards sustainable low-carbon energy production. This dialogue is needed for shared and sustainable solutions, which could thus significantly accelerate the transition. It helps to understand viewpoints and interests for the actual implementation of low-carbon energy technologies, reduction of energy consumption and higher energy efficiency.

The R&Dialogue project initiates this dialogue in an inclusive, democratic and transparent way: all stakeholders from civil society and research are welcome to join.

Together we focus on the main energy challenges at European, national and regional level in 10 participating countries. We will address social, technological, ecological and economic aspects and learn from each other. Our focus on the social aspects of the transition process is what makes R&Dialogue a unique and crucial effort.

R&Dialogue aims to develop both national action plans and a European vision. We identify valuable lessons regarding the dialogue from all over Europe, bring them to Brussels and improve effectiveness and speed of research efforts. The lessons can be diverse, open and multiple. What matters is that they work. In R&Dialogue we believe that economic growth and a low-carbon society can go hand in hand.

It is up to us all to work together to improve the common European dialogue towards a low-carbon society.

Outline R&Dialogue project

R&Dialogue: research and civil society dialogue towards a low-carbon society.

Why R&Dialogue is a relevant project

Many scientists and policy makers agree that man-made climate change caused by greenhouse gases is

a threat to society. It needs to be prevented or at least mitigated. This has prompted the European Commission to adopt the “Energy Roadmap 2050”. The EU aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emission to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050. To achieve this reduction, we need to build a wide range of sustainable energy solutions. Such solutions require collaboration of all levels of society. To achieve it, we must improve the low-carbon dialogue by participation of all stakeholders, especially civil society.

Who we are

R&Dialogue is a consortium of 15 partners in the field of energy (scientists, NGOs, consultants and policy advisors) in 10 European countries.

What we do

In R&Dialogue:

10 country teams start a dialogue in Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the UK;

The teams connect the single country learning experience on a European level;

A social science team facilitates the social process for an effective sharing and mutual learning experience;

A management team directs the project, taking into account the different perspectives of research institutes, NGOs and business.

To see who the initiators of R&Dialogue are, please have a look at www.RnDialogue.eu/partners.

How you can participate

We are looking for key stakeholders to join R&Dialogue: organisations who want to improve the capacity of society to make decisions on sustainable energy solutions. Participation from a wide range of stakeholders is essential for R&Dialogue to succeed. Only a vision shared between the different social actors through dialogue, exchange and mutual learning can bring the necessary level of consensus for the transformations that lie ahead.

What we want to achieve

At the end of the project we will have developed a European vision towards a low-carbon society, we will have identified ways to improve the dialogue and we will have agreed to actions to support implementation of low-carbon technologies. Also, the dialogue can lead to:

Long lasting partnerships between the research community and civil society organisations at national and international level;

Public and private initiatives for a low-carbon society;

New networks for a continuous dialogue;

New policy in maintaining the dialogue towards a low-carbon society.

Project timeline and phasing

The project starting date is 1 June 2012. The project lasts 3,5 years and will conclude in a European event at the end of 2015.

<<picture with phases and phase titles>>

Phase 1 is for the consortium to prepare for the dialogue action;

In phase 2 we aim to involve a group of key stakeholders in each of the 10 countries who are motivated to face the issues together with us;

In phase 3 the dialogue is broadened to a national level. This phase is concluded with national events;

In phase 4 the national dialogues are taken to the level of European learning, which concludes with a big European event.

Information about R&Dialogue: www. RnDialogue.eu or contact us at info@RnDialogue.eu.

<<Logo EU + FP7>>

Key communication messages identified during the Rome meeting

We are facilitating an inclusive, democratic and transparent National dialogue for a low carbon society.

We need a dialogue on the mix of LCT solutions, including energy efficiency and their implementation.

Low carbon technologies are important for climate change and environmental protection.

We learn lessons from all over Europe and we bring them to Brussels. Economy and low carbon society go hand in hand. A dialogue is needed for shared and sustainable solutions. Diversity of the solutions: they are open and multiple. R&Dialogue will address human, technological and economic aspects. Initial understanding of viewpoints and interests is key for the implementation of LCTs in

a sustainable energy system.

Appendix 2. Plan of activities at national level for outline to the stakeholders: what we are doing, what are the plans for the future

Preamble: it is important to explain that our project addresses the need of a common understanding of how we can progress towards a low carbon society; therefore it is focused on helping people meet to find constructive ways to think together about the issue. The point is that we plan to organise the meetings and workshops so that new ways for interacting and thinking together can take place. This also should be stressed as an important added value for the participants.

1) Establishment relationships with key stakeholders: contacting/getting involved/interviewing - about 40 interviews/meetings (objective: exploration stakeholders’ perspectives + willingness participation dialogue action)

2) Formation of the National Council: getting to know the other organisations, exchange, mutual learning, working together to develop a common vision

3) Support from the consortium to the national council on different levels:

For the organization of the activities (meetings, workshops, preparation of documents, etc.)

For finding good and innovative ways to work together enhancing the dialogue and overcoming barriers related to differing points of view, language, objectives, pre-existing conflicts

4) Development National Inventory for a common understanding of the status quo and of the areas of development which will then be explored by council members together, learning from each stakeholders’ specific experience and perspective. The project will provide the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of both technological options and societal challenges thanks to the participation of research organizations and civil society organisations.

5) Production of a Discussion Paper and wide national exchange about it through different channels

6) Agreement on a National LC Vision and its presentation at a final National Event

Appendix 3. Summary stakeholders’ participation to activities (to answer the question about what their participation could imply in terms of time and type of work)

Preamble: stakeholders might need to better understand how much time it would take to participate to the project, what kind of engagement. You find here a synthetic description based on what is written in the project, nevertheless at this stage there is ample room to explore together with the stakeholders and better understand together which activities will better fulfil the objectives and the related time engagement. The dialogue is meant to be a co-created action.

1) interest to give their opinions, and share their perspectives, on LCT and their development, through an interview at the start and at the end of the project

2) participation to meetings of the council and workshops for mutual learning (n.7-10?, the two kinds of activities could often go together )

3) visits to other organisations

4) documents preparation – National Inventory, Discussion Paper, Vision Paper (here different levels of involvement can be envisaged for different stakeholders)

5) participation to events organised for discussing the Discussion paper

6) participation final event

Appendix 4. Question sheet (to be translated)

Rules for the meeting

I don’t have a sequence of questions for you, I’m interested to hear about your thoughts on the proposed issues. You can take your time to think about it and pause when you need to gather your thoughts.

If you wish you can read the question again to check whether you have told me all you are interested to say or whether there is something you want to go more in depth in.

Question

Today there are many ideas about what a low carbon society can look like and we are seeking to create a space for exchanging views.

With R&Dialogue we try to find new ways to share knowledge, ideas and possible directions for technology innovation. We would like to learn together how, through dialogue between research and societal actors, we can shape low carbon society in our country and in Europe.

What is your thinking about this? Please tell me all that comes to your mind with regard to it.

Appendix 5. Informed consent form

FP7 Project “R&Dialogue”

“Research and Civil Society Dialogue towards a low carbon society”

WP1 – Social Process to Support the national & EU Dialogue

and WP Add WP number – Low Carbon Dialogue Add Country Name

Informed consent form

for participation to the research activities

Responsible for the study for WP1 University of Rome Sapienza - CERI and for WP Add WP number Add Organisation Name

Information for the participant

(Art. 2,h and 7 of the European Parliament and Council Directive 95/46/EC of 24 October 1995)

SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH

The scope of the research work is to encourage dialogue and mutual learning between research institutions and civil society organizations on low carbon technologies. During the study I will need to make audio recordings of you. I now need you to give permission for me to collect your personal data, to do the recording and to use the recorded material.

DATA TREATMENT

The data collected during the research will be treated as follows:

The data collected during the R&Dialogue project will only be used for research purposes and eventually for sending information material or other communications.

The R&Dialogue project requires the transfer of data between project’s partners. The transfer and the associated treatment will be subject to the European Union rules concerning the protection of privacy.

The data will never be communicated to other users for commercial purposes o other purposes other than those concerning the R&Dialogue project.

The data provider may withdraw his/her content to the treatment in any moment, even if those data s have already been archived.

Should the data be used for publications, any reference, useful for the personal identification, will be avoid.

The responsible for the treatment of the data will be: add responsible person name for add responsible institution name and Samuela Vercelli for University of Rome Sapienza - CERI.

In case of any further question, please contact the study for WP1 – Mrs. Samuela Vercelli, samuelavercelli@uniroma1.it, tel. 00390649914919; and for WP add WP number – add national responsible name, email, telephone number.

Consent declaration

Name and surname ……………………………………...……………

Place of birth………………….....………………………country………....................

Date of birth ……………………….

address……………………………. ……………………

educational qualification……………………………………………………..

organisation………………………………………………………..

position……………………………………………………………

I consent to the treatment of my personal data in accordance with the European Parliament and Council Directive 95/46/EC of 24 October 1995 on personal data treatment, in relation to the objectives of the research project “R&Dialogue -Research and Civil Society Dialogue towards a low carbon society” and in particular (circle the chosen option):

1. The transcription of the recordings can be studied by the researchers for research purposes

Yes No

2. Excerpts of the transcriptions can be quoted in anonymous manner in scientific publications; during lessons, meetings or conferences; on the project’s website.

Yes No

3. My personal data can be used for sending me communications or other information related to the research work

Yes No

4. I give my consent to being contacted in 2 year time for a new interview

Yes No

Please add here any additional request you might have concerning data treatment:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Date………………………………………………….

Participant signature ………………………………………………

Researcher name and signature ………………………………………………….

Appendix 6. Transcription instructions

When selecting the transcription agency, make a test to make sure they will do the work as required. Send them a 10 min audio file and check the transcription is made following the instructions. This is important since transcription agencies are used to another kind of work, so it might require additional interaction and clarifications before they are clear and ready about the work to be done.

Transcription guidelines for the transcription agency

The goal of the transcription is to write every single word the speaker says, (except for interjections like: uhm, ehm, mah, boh, etc. that can be ignored). Please do not put in nice sentences. Leave the sentences exactly as they are expressed by the interviewee.

All the sentences have to be transcribed, also when the speaker does not end them. The unfinished sentences have to be ended with the dot. Please never use “…”(dot, dot, dot) for indicating the pauses in the discourse, when necessary use the comma.

It is not important to start a new paragraph unless there is an alternation in speaking turns (when more people are speaking).

Please, use a transcription mode to distinguish the speaker and the interviewer's sentences.

You can use the initial letters of the Name and the Surname of the interviewer (for example, “NB:” for Nadia Battisti) at the beginning of the interviewer questions/sentences/phrases, and the initial letters of the Name and the Surname of the interviewee at the beginning of the interviewee sentence/phrases (for example “MR:” for Mario Rossi).

Please shift to the head, when the speaking person changes.

It is very important to use the punctuation correctly, since the program we use for text analysis uses punctuation as the fragmentation criteria (.,;:!?).

Don’t report: comments on the speaker's behaviour (e.g.: the speaker does not speaks for a few minutes, or talks on the phone, smiles, etc.).

Thank you very much!