Table 1 Interview Schedule. The project is investigating curriculum. A working definition of curriculum is “The total set of experiences that a student or learner will encounter in the learning process”. The purpose of that curriculum is to prepare students for practice as Radiation Therapists. With those two ideas in mind I have some questions for you to consider
From: Investigating New Zealand radiation therapy student perceptions about their degree curriculum
Initial Question | Prompts or Follow Up Questions | Rationale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
What does it mean to be a radiation therapist? | A personal perspective is appropriate Has your understanding of that changed since you became a student RT? What experiences on the programme have shaped your perspective? What do these terms mean to you: competent, qualified, graduate, practitioner Do you think all student RTs would think what you think? Why do you say that? | Establish participant’s perspective | |
Who or what determines what it means to be a radiation therapist? | Can you identify the groups or factors that influence or drive what it means to be a radiation therapist? Some more than others? To what degree? Why has that been the case? Will those factors or parties determine those things in the future? Are there “things” which make a person a radiation therapist? Such as: Values, behaviours, habits, practices, specialist knowledge? Where and how are those “things” established? Is there a point someone “becomes” an RT? How do they get to that point? Who shapes that? Curriculum – what does it mean do you? (lead to next main question) | Can the participant explain their perspective? | |
What makes you say those are the things which determine what is means to be a radiation therapist? | Tell me about key experiences as a student that influence your answer? Has your perspective changed as you progressed through the programme? - academic or clinical experiences, experiences from different clinical centres | Influences on the participant – allow me to see through their lens | |
What is your opinion about those factors determining what it means to be a radiation therapist? | Is the status quo, as you understand it, appropriate? Would you like to see any of this change? Can you elaborate? Will “being a RT” remain the same now and in the future? Can you elaborate? In what ways do you think the COVD-19 pandemic has affected things? Is that likely to remain the case? | Has the participant a view of the future, what basis does that have? | |
Is there anything we have not addressed today that you would like to mention or comment on? | Allow for burning issues and door handle moments |