Module 2: Inquiry Research FAD Diets

Module 2: Inquiry Research

FAD Diets

The definition of a FAD Diet is rather subjective. The term 'fad' is often used to describe diets that are extreme, claim miracle weight loss and go against advice from health professionals. However, a fad diet can quite simply be a weight loss plan that becomes very popular (quickly) and then they may fail (quickly) to provide long term, healthy weight loss.

Recognizing a Fad Diet

Fad Diets often use the words 'easy', 'effortless', 'guaranteed', 'miraculous', 'breakthrough', 'mysterious', 'exclusive' or 'secret', or phrases such as 'New discovery', 'Eat all you want and still lose weight!'.

So what is it that you mostly lose when following radical diets or those that 'contradict health professional advise'? The answer is water, glycogen stores and lean muscles mass.

Common problems with Fad Diets

imbalanced diets - 

may recommend that carbohydrate, protein and fat be eaten in quantities that contradict advice from nutritionists and dietitians. Weight loss may be experienced initially, but because the diet does not provide the right quantities of each nutrient, the body will adjust, producing a negative effect on metabolism, health and, got the dancer, performance.

A Rapid Weight Loss Diet -

based on exotic-sounding herb supplement, cannot aid weight loss when the diet is high in fat and sugar. Natural and safe herbs and supplements may subtly promote a healthier metabolic rate, but dramatic claims of rapid weight loss can be dangerous and untrue. And Short-term.

A Low-Calorie Diet - 

encourages the body to lower the metabolic rate in order to conserve energy, especially if the calorie falls below the resting metabolic rate. Our bodies are very good at adapting to our environment. The less you eat, the less you need.  

A Restrictive Diet -

that eliminates or avoids certain food groups will not only be difficult to follow in the long term, but also encourage nutritional deficiencies that would affect health, performance and metabolism. Weight is often regained once the diet is no longer followed, and in many cases subjects weigh more than when they started the diet, as their metabolism has been affected.

A Miracle Diet - 

not backed up by scientific studies, may nevertheless seen logical in some cases, but claims are often based on basic knowledge that has been altered slightly to create a statement that is no longer accurate. You can't put 2 and 2 together to get 4.5!

Yo-Yo Dieting - 

is a term used to describe dieting practices whereby a person may undertake several food restriction and fasting, followed by overeating. Each time the person stops dieting, weight returns, and often the dieter weighs more that ever before. When you fast or severely restrict your intake for long periods of time, the body reserves energy. When you overeat, the body is much more likely to store those calories as body fat, as it thinks it may experience another episode of fasting. Body weight fluctuates, thus your metabolism is affected.

Different Ways of Losing Weight

In a Healthy Balanced Diet, focus is placed on reducing weight whilst promoting long-term lifestyle changes that encourage long-term successful results, healthily. There is no need to change the of food eaten once the person's ideal weight is reached. 

In a Fad Diet, focus is placed on quick, flash-style weight loss for short-term and (semi) successful results, most often, unhealthily. The diet cannot be sustained on a long term basis.

Ironically, it is often the fad diet can be labelled 'long and boring'. It can become tedious and repetitive owing to it's restriction or elimination of certain foods. 

If a diet is restrictive, avoids certain food groups, is imbalanced, has a very low calorie intake or is based on a miracle herb, it is very unlikely to work in the long term. Restrictive diets cannot be followed over a long period, so dieters often regain weight because they do not know what they should be eating once the diet is stopped. Additionally, rapid weight loss and excessive calorie restriction can result in muscle loss and slower metabolism, making it harder to keep the weight off. Moreover, the body has by then adopted a 'survival' mechanism, and needs fewer calories to carry out every day functions. It is also very likely that the dieter has become deficient in many different vitamins and minerals, and will not be performing at their best. They may feel healthy and energized at the beginning of the diet, but unfortunately this is not long-lasting, and the consequences of a poor diet will be just around the corner!

Fortunately, the effects of a restrictive diet can be reversed in most cases, and a gradual introduction of a varied diet, combined with exercise, will correct nutritional deficiencies and encourage the metabolic rate to function effectively. 

Here are some examples of popular diets: 

The Zone Diet

The idea of relaxed metabolic and mental 'zone' was created by Barry Sears.

Principle: 40% Carbohydrates, 30% Protein, 30% Fat

Claims to:

• Promote weight loss
• Increase mental focus
• Increase physical performance

What Experts Point Out:

• Very strict quantities of food portioned into blocks at particular times of the day
• Unhealthy attitudes to foods by categorising foods as good or bad rather than 'eat plenty of' or 'just small amounts of'
• Total calories average at 1300kcal -  some menus are as low as 850kcal per day, making it a very low calorie diet in disguise. Many menus fall below the resting metabolic rate, thus reducing the metabolic rate and making it hard to keep the weight off. 
• Relies on  unproven claims that have not been published in scientific journals.

SHORT TERM WEIGHT LOSS?          YES!

LONG TERM WEIGHT LOSS?             NO!

LONG AND TEDIOUS?                        YES! 

The Grapefruit Diet

Created in 1930's Hollywood, and one of the oldest and most discussed Hollywood fad diets.

Principle: Involves large quantities of grapefruit and small amounts of black coffee, the odd piece of dry toast, egg and, when generous, fish or meat in the evening. Calorie intake is restricted about 800kcal per day. It is based on the idea that grapefruit has 'fat-burning enzymes'.

Claims to:

• Promote rapid weight loss

What The Experts Point Out:

• Very narrow range of foods 
• Imbalanced diet leading to many nutrient deficiencies 
• Grapefruit has no 'fat-burning power'
• No scientific basis to claim that grapefruit has these 'special' properties. It is a healthy food along side other fruits and vegetables.
• A very low-calorie diet, which results in a lowered metabolic rate.
• Does not promote healthy eating therefore once the diet is abandoned, weight is often regained, and dieters often weight more that when they started the diet.

SHORT TERM WEIGHT LOSS?          YES!

LONG TERM WEIGHT LOSS?             NO!

LONG AND TEDIOUS?                        MOST DEFINITELY!

From these examples, it is clear that some fad diets are wildly extreme and very imaginative, while others are are quite similar to what health professionals consider to be a balanced diet. Many other fad diets are available on the web, in books and in magazines: The Cambridge Diet, Slim Fast ... the list is endless. However, just because a diet has a name doesn't always mean it is unhealthy. In the end, the best diet is a balanced diet - and your body will be more than happy to agree with you. 

  

Module 2: Nutrition for The Dancer, written by Zerlina Mastin / Quotes

Nutrition for the Dancer

Written by Zerlina Mastin

Quotes

Throughout my 2nd Year of training I was given the book, 'NUTRITION FOR THE DANCER' (written by Zerlina Mastin), for a secret Santa present! This book has proved incredibly resourceful throughout my Inquiry research as it has valuable information regarding a range of areas regarding nutrition and well-being:

• Food Facts
• 'A Dancer's Diet'
• Injury, Nutrition and Recovery
• The Young Dancer
• Recipes for Snacks and Meals
• The Dancer's Kitchen
• Body sculpting and weight loss

Here some quotes from this book throughout various chapter's, which have caught my eye whilst reading this source!

‘The really great dancer is perhaps a rarer phenomenon than greater musicians, painters or sculptors,’                                    (k. Subbas Chandran, pg. 1)

‘The body is the instrument and the dancer is the artist’           (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 1)

(The dancer’s body...) ‘Strong and lean muscles, immense flexibility, proportional physique, suette outline and considerably low body fat’                 (George Balanchine, pg. 2)

‘The physical artistry of dance necessitates extraordinary physical athleticism, flexibility and strength that rival the same qualities of an athlete’        (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 2)

’80 % of Professional Dancers experience an average of three injuries each year’                              (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 2, Dance Uk’s Healthy Dancer Programme survey)

‘Amenorrhoea (loss of menstruation) was experiences by 21% of dancers for six months or more’     (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 2, Dance Uk’s Healthy Dancer Programme survey)

‘25% of dancers have experienced an eating disorder at some point in their career’                  

 (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 2, Dance Uk’s Healthy Dancer Programme survey)

‘Nutrition is a means to greater creativity and expression, rather than an obstacle that prevents dancers from achieving their ideal physique. This cannot be stressed enough’                                   (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 4)

‘They strive for physical perfection not for the prowess alone but as a way of achieving the means necessary to express the pure nature of their art’     (George Balanchine, pg. 7)

‘Science is the force behind a dancer’s presence on stage, offering strength, flexibility and virtuosity to their improvements’                     (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 7)

‘When I miss class for day, I know it.

When I miss class for two days, my teacher knows it.

When I miss class for three days, the audience knows it’                (Rolf Noreyev, pg. 13)

'You cannot drive a car without fuel'                 (Zerilna Mastin, pg. 16)

'Dancing appears glamorous, easy, delightful. But the path to paradise of the achievement is not easier than any other. There is fatique so great that the body cries, even in it's sleep'
(Martha Graham, pg. 25)

'Fat is hidden in so many everyday foods available in supermarkets, corner shops, canteens, restaurants and cafes that is rather difficult to avoid or limit'        (Albert Einstein, pg. 33)

'It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer'        (Shanna La Fleur, pg. 41)

'Vitamins and Minerals are imperitive to the dancer. Without them, the body's chemestry would just not work'                            (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 41)

'The one important thing I have learnt over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking oneself seriously. The first is imperative and the second disastrous.'                     (Dame Margot Fonteyn, pg. 66)

Young dancers are training at a very vulnerable time in their live ... So train the whole person, not just the dancer'                  (Deborah Bull, pg. 69)

'A growing and developing body needs good nutrition; feeding the body is equally as important as training the body'                  (Zerlina Mastin, pg. 79)

'The practice mirror is to be used for the correction of faults, not for a love affair, and the figure you watch should not become your dearest friend'     (Agnes de Mille, pg. 81)

'The Mirror is not you. The mirror is you looking at yourself'     (George Balanchine, pg. 95)

'In a dancer there is a reverence for such forgotten things as the miracle of the small beautiful bones and their delicate strength'       (Martha Graham, pg. 111)

Module 2: Inquiry Research / Media & Technology

Module 2: Inquiry Research / Media & Technology

Mass media which includes radio, television and the print media is a great source of information for the society. Every day we are bombarded with images that come out of the television, magazines or the newspapers. The radio is yet another medium that has the potential to captivate our attention. While there are several useful and important messages that are disseminated by these instruments of mass media, it is also important to note that there are some messages that may not be in the best interests of humanity as a whole. The images that we see every day and the message that we hear from these media instruments can have a very profound impact on almost all of the choices that we make. In fact, the choices that we make with regards to our food are also influenced by these very same instruments of the media.

Advertising is the primary source of income for the media. Through advertising, we see several messages on a daily basis. A majority of them will be connected with food and the food industry as a whole. Television channels, radio, print media and the internet are all used to deliver the message about various food items that are in the market. Food manufacturers market their products in these mediums in order to ensure that their products are sold to their target audiences. Millions of pounds are spent by manufacturers in order to make their advertisements attractive. Techniques like attractive jingles, catchy phrases and attractive photography are employed to create an illusory world where the food item that is being marketed will seem irresistible.

Media instruments like television are also directly responsible for obesity and overweight. Children who watch a lot of television will demand the food items that are in commercials. These need not be healthy food items. Television viewing has even been inversely related to the intake of healthy food items like fruits and vegetables. It also needs to be said that media can also have a positive influence on food habits. When the messages that are being transmitted are accurate and promote healthy food choices, it may have a positive impact on the food habits of the general public. It can be said without any doubt that the media does have an impact on our food habits. It is therefore important to ensure that the messages that are broadcast are accurate and advocate healthy diets and healthy food.

I do believe that now days media and technology is groeing massively with regards to promoting nutrition and well-being facts/statements/articles/tips/gadgets, however I find that not every source we read is reliable or truthful.

Whenever I log into Facebook, for example, I find that I am bombarded with a huge range of nutrition and fitness blogs and articles, promoting new, 'eye opening' food phenomena within snazzy, intriguing titles to grab your interest. I do admit I read a variation of these links, however I cannot count the amount of times I have dissagreed with particular information or indentified that 2 familiar sources are extremely controversial. 

The FITBIT

Among fitness products, Fitbit is well in the lead for sales and hype – accounting for over 50% of the three million plus sales of wearable fitness devices across a one-year period in 2013 and 2014, and sales increasing at a breakneck speed. I can count myself among one of those sales, when I strapped the Fitbit Flex onto my wrist back in June of 2013. I was intrigued by the promise that the Fitbit would monitor my sleep and record my activity.

Fitbit’s mantra is to make fitness part of your daily routine, allowing you to track your own data and use social media to “challenge” friends to meet their exercise goals. Fitbit has tapped into our need to be constantly connected by giving you live data – on your wrist – of how much you have walked each day. When you meet your daily goal, the Fitbit lets you know with a strong vibrating buzz.

From my own experience (and the testimonials of many others on the internet), the Fitbit can inspire you to exercise more to meet your daily goals (the default is 10,000 steps per day, but you can increase or decrease that amount if you choose). I know there have been times that I have marched in place before bedtime, or walked somewhere instead of biking to gain some steps and get that rewarding buzz telling me, “goal achieved.”

But is this a trend that will last? 3 months later, I still love my Fitbit. But are these fitness devices actually helpful for the (perhaps less exercise-obsessed) general public? By being aware of how much (or how little) you are exercising, can the Fitbit motivate you exercise more? And perhaps more importantly, how well do fitness trackers work? Is the information (steps, distance, calories) even accurate?

Heavy Metal Exposure from a Fitbit?

In March 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission officially recalled the Fitbit Force due to injuries to an estimated 9,900 people.  These customers suffered from skin irritations such as blisters, rashes, and peeling skin after continual wearing of the Fitbit Force for a period of time.  Fitbit stated that after consulting with medical professionals, the general assessment is that the skin problems were likely allergic reactions to nickel, a alloy in the stainless steel or adhesives used to assemble the Fitbit Force.

While it is well known that ingesting heavy metals like nickel can cause health problems, what is less well known is that the skin can absorb heavy metals too. Cooking acidic foods in stainless steel is known to leech alloys like nickel into the food, but could stainless steel placed on the skin which is normally acidic at a pH of 4.5-5.5 leech metals too?  Even minute amounts of heavy metals in the body can have negative health consequences so this is far from a trivial concern.

Until there is more research and definitive answers to this question, it seems prudent to be wary of products like the Fitbit Force that expose the skin to heavy metals for extended periods of time.

The huge amount of 'fitness trackers' on offer within this generation is very evident! Whether it's a Fit Bit or an Apple Watch, these gadgets can prove to be an excellent gadget for an athlete or performer in particular. I am slightly obsessed with my Fit Bit Flex as I love to keep track of my daily step count, calorie intake, activity and sleep pattern. This tracker is now a prominent factor of my lifestyle, however I am concerned as to whether these 'technological phenomena' are beneficial within a performer's long term career and lifestyle? How easy is it to overdose on fitness gadgets, hypes and trends?

Module 2: Reader 6 - Tools of Professional Inquiry / Overview

Module 2: Reader 6 Overview

Tools of Professional Inquiry

This source addresses a selection of tools that will be useful whilst researching and exploring my topic questions and ‘Line of Inquiry’. Throughout reviewing this ‘Reader’ I plan to select a variation of tools and methods to assist and structure my planning. By viewing other writer’s strategies ways of planning their ‘first hand data’, will influence my approach within my Inquiry.

The way in which I plan data is essential. Whilst completing the Inquiry Proposal I must address the sense of structure and research planning.

The main 3 objectives to achieve within Module 2 are:

·      Identifying my main area of practice

·      Develop Inquiry questions

·      Indicate your selected tools of planning

Designing Practitioner Inquiry

By using a combination of scientific research methods and tools, I will be using real-life experiences in an ethical and structured manner. Whilst gathering this data I must always consider how the sources or findings relate to other professionals within my field.

There are 4 main research tools explored with Module 2:

·      Observation (also participant observation)

·      Interviews

·      Focus Groups

·      Surveys

Validity within the Inquiry design is essential,

‘Whether your methods, approaches and techniques actually relate to, or measure, the issues you have been exploring.’

(Blaxter et al, 2001, p. 221)

People will use different inquiry methods depending on their chosen topic as ‘different questions require different methods to answer them’

(Punch, 1998, p. 19)

Both Qualitative and Quantitative approaches can be used in a mixed-research design when observing data.

Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research.

I have already used ‘Qualitative researching’ as I have collated a wide range of literature (articles/websites/blogs/books), where I have gained new knowledge and views regarding my topic. Throughout my group and individuals I will also be using transcripts and audio recordings to ensure anonymity and confidentiality. I will be collating a multiple of views and opinions from professionals, graduates, students and tutors within my industry, using participant’s views as a basis for my Inquiry. Tools such as audio recordings, transcriptions, questionnaires and note taking will assist in organising my data.

‘Qualitative research aims to produce rounded and contextual understandings on the basis of rich, nuanced and detailed data’

(Mason, 2002, p.3)

‘In this approach the researcher becomes one of the tools of inquiry, and must reflexively be aware of their own positioning or biases’

(Mason, 2002)

Whilst planning and carrying out my inquiry research I focus on Mason’s previous statement. Even though in some cases I can voice my opinions, using a critical approach to display data I must always consider the views of others, portraying a neutral stance.

Quantitative research is a more logical and data-led approach which provides a measure of what people think from a statistical and numerical point of view. For example, if you wanted to know how many of your customers support a proposed change in your products or service and how strongly (on a scale) they support it.

Quantitative research tends to involve relatively large scale and representative sets of data, and is often, falsely in our view, presented and perceived as being about the gathering of ‘facts’

I also am organising a group interview and providing questionnaires to my SIG groups to identify common trends or correlations within questions regarding the nutrition and well being of a performer. My selected lines of Inquiry will alter my approach of gathering, analysing and presenting my findings within my professional practice.

I may use this method of research once I have gained data from my ‘Nutrition Questionnaire’ as it may be an affective technique to organise and store my data. By creating a questionnaire/survey to give to my SIG Groups (ex graduates, students). Due to the wide range of answers from my questionnaire I may not be able to calculate the mean, median, mode and percentages of my findings, however I will be able to collate a large amount of data that will be analysed to identify any similarities or differences. I will not use Quantitative Research as frequently as Qualitative Research.

‘The research is conducted to determine a universal cause and effect to predict future correlations or comparisons. However, quantitative research still uses descriptive knowledge because it provides explanation’

(Punch, 1998)

How to Research, Written by Lorraine baxter (2001)

I found reading this source incredibly useful as I could instantly understand her approach of Research. Within the introduction she states,

‘There is excitement at the prospect of discovering new insights into a topic of interest. There is a sense of confusion over what you are meant to be doing and when. You are aware that you have the ability to build on your current skills and aptitudes to complete the task ahead effectively.’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

I instantly felt like I could relate to this book as Hughes involved and highlighted feelings/emotion that I had experienced throughout the Research process:

‘Are you currently feeling ‘all at see’ and not knowing in which direction to turn within your research project?’

‘You have a sense of drowning at one moment in the size of the task ahead, and then floating serenely at the next moment content with the work you have produced so far’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Before discussing planning and research for my Inquiry with my tutor and fellow students, I did feel how Hughes had described as I was happy with work I had produced to analyse different pieces of literature and research however is the an end to the research process?

I now believe that the process of researching throughout my Inquiry project will never completely end, however I must know how to plan my Inquiry research and priorities what aspects of my Inquiry I need to carry out.

Hughes highlights that one of the most useful methods regarding research is the day-to-day technique of Reading, Listening and Watching,

‘Research involves the professionalization of these everyday skills’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Before reading this source I had not thought about these everyday skills. I believe that these methods play a huge role within my Inquiry research.

By reading a wide range of literature, books, blogs or magazines I learn allot from all of these sources whether I make notes/annotate or generally remember the rough outline of useful links/content.

From childhood we watch our parents and learn from their actions and the actions of others around us. Through watching I can highlight the behavior of professionals and practitioners within my industry, thus gaining new knowledge and research.

Throughout our daily routine we listen consciously and sub-consciously, whether it be to friends, parents, performers, tutors, the radio or television. By identifying the emotions and intention of what someone will say, will strengthen my ability to extract useful and meaningful information regarding my Inquiry. This tool will prove incredibly useful whilst analysing Interview recordings.

I agree that its essential to create a systematic approach to researching. This is the process that I may use within my Inquiry Research:

CHOOSING - (Selecting sufficient data and literature to analyse)

QUESTIONING - (Questioning the information using our senses, assessing its relevance and the opinions of others)

SUMMERISING - (What to leave out? What to stress? What is key information?)

ORGANISATION - (Providing Key Information first, then providing details?, addressing the source is historical/chronological sequence?)

PRESENTING - (Relaying your findings to readers, influence others opinions and your own)

REFLECTION - (How this source impacts/relates with your industry and your learning)

‘You can never empirically or logically the best approach. This can only be done reflectively by considering a situation to be studied and your own opinion of life’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Personally this method of researching works well within my Professional Inquiry as it’s systematical and I think this structure will assist me effectively throughout module 3! I am able to use this technique through my literature analysis and also my interviews and transcripts.

‘The question ‘which method is best?’ is not soley about whether for example, to use interviews, questionnaires and observations. Underpinning these research tools are more general philosophical questions about how we understand social reality, and what are the most appropriate ways of studying it’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Action Research

Action Research is a popular method amongst smaller social researchers, particularly those work in professional areas such as education, health and social care. It’s well suited to the needs of people conducting research within their workplace, and who focus on improving aspects of their own and their colleagues practices.

A convention Action Research approach  was envisaged to:

• Examine the nature of the problem
• Devise an appropriate product-based intervention
• Trial this
• Evaluate the impact

I am interesting in this research technique. Even though I am not basing my Inquiry within a company or organisation I am exploring my workplace and the Performing Arts Industry. I believe that this method will work effectively whilst communicating within my Sig Groups and throughout group interviews. By using this tool I will be able to not only identify knew information and views upon a certain question, but I will be able to highlight and discuss how the overall impact of the question and what we can learn from it.

Surveys

‘A social survey is a research strategy. By this we mean that this involves an overall decision – a strategic decision – about the way to set about gathering and analysing data.’

(Aldridge and Levine 2001: 5, emphasis in original)

‘We ask everyone precisely those questions that we want answered. More than this we try to ask questions in precisely the same way in each interview – to standardise the questionnaire as a measuring instrument’

(Sapsford 1999: 4-5, Emphasis in original)

This method is an incredibly resourceful tool throughout my research, as online surveys are very simple to create and easily accessed by readers. By creating surveys online and as a handout is a great way to gain ‘bulk’ information. By creating a variety of ‘Open ended’ questions, participants are able to write in as much detail regarding their experiences views and opinions. I have sectioned ‘Questionnaire Groups’ (Students, Graduates and professionals) to answer my questionnaire. I have done this as I will be able to collect and store my data in accordance to my structures groups, therefore I will be able to efficiently identify common trends and differences between my data.

With an appropriate sample, surveys may aim at representation and provides generalised results. Surveys can be relatively easier to administer, and need not require any field work. They may also be repeated in the future or in different setting to allow comparisons to be made. With a good response rate, surveys can provide allow of data relatively quickly.

Interviews

Interviews are a QUALITATIVE method of researching. An advantage of this technique is that,

'You can follow up on ideas, probe responses and investigate motives and feelings'

(Bell, 2005, p. 156)

An Interview can be carried out in a multiple of ways:

• Face to face or over the telephone
• With a group of people or an individual
• Using a structured list of questions or a more formal method of interaction

Semi-Structured Interviews

Included set questions with the flexibility of following interesting or useful emerging issues is often most appropriate for the work based researcher.

Non-Directive or Open Interviews

Allows the interviewee to talk about anything they like

Narrative Inquiry

Participants use a story telling format

Informal Interviews

Over all ain is to gain data, using an extremely non-structured approach

Informal/Guided Interviews

Providing topic areas to cover but no set questions. Interviews are time-consuming but they can allow the collection of valuable data about motives, expectations and attitudes that are very difficult to collect by any other means. 

0. 
   To carry out interviews you will need to consider:
   
   
• What data do you need to collect to answer your research questions that may only be provided by other people?
  
• Who do you need to interview and why?
  
• Where would be most appropriate to hold the interview – neutral ground or
  ‘home’ ground?
  
• At what point in the research process would it be best to interview?
  
• What questions need to be asked?
• Whether all the interviews will include the same questions and follow the
  same structure? If not, why not?
  
• How are you going to record the interview – whether to make notes during the
  interview or use a tape recorder and transcribe notes afterwards?
  
• How are you going to access the data from the interview – transcribe tape
  recordings, order and/or reflect on your written notes?
  
• How will you ensure that you comply with ethical and confidentiality issues
  and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act? What is the status of what is said, i.e. is everything on the record? 
  (Reader 6)
  
  

Throughout my Inquiry Research and Planning, Interviewing will play a key role within gathering data from a selection of students, graduates, performers, tutors and nutritionists. I will use different forms of interviewing depending on the interview:

For example:

Students/Graduates - I will use a 'semi-structured' approach, as the participant will find the interview slightly easier as there are questions to answer and they do not have to talk constantly throughout. However by using 'open ended' questions, this gives the interviewee the chance to fully express their views.

Nutritionist/Practitioner - I will use an 'informal/guided' method of interview. As the interviewees have a knowledgable understanding of my topic, I feel that it would be more beneficial to provide them with only a few, open questions which will let the participant discuss their knowledge and views regarding the subject.

Interviews