provide feedback on how my classmate justifies interviewing as an appropriate and feasible strategy.

Week 5 Workshop Current Version of Research Questions 1. How do individuals construct their personal narratives about self-identity and self-perception before and after obtaining tattoos and piercings? 2. What personal and cultural meanings emerge from individuals' life stories about their body modifications? 3. How do individuals narrate their experiences of navigating societal perceptions and potential stigma about body modification? Rationale for Interviewing as the Primary Data Collection Method Inter iewing is the most appropriate methad for this study because it allows participants to share their personal experiences in depth, which aligns with the narrative inquiry approach. Patton (2015) explains that qualitative interviewing is particularly useful when exploring complex, subjective experiences that require detailed, open-ended respanses (p.426). Since the study focuses on identity, meaning making, and lived experiences, interviews will allow participants to reflect on their unique journeys with body modification in a way that other methods, such as focus groups or observations, might not fully capture. Focus groups may limit individual storytelling, as participants might not feel comfortable sharing deeply personal experiences in a group setting (Seidman, 2012, p.10). Additionally, observational data collection is unsuitable because the study is concerned with internal meaning making and self-perception, which cannot be directly observed (Patton, 2015, p. 442). Lastly, interviews, particularly semi-structured interviews, allow for rich, detailed narratives that align with the research's emphasis on personal storytelling (Seidman, 2012, p.13) Types of Questions to Be Asked The research questions necessitate deeply personal reflection on identity, self-perception, and societal judgement. Some of these topics may be sensitive or emotionally charged requiring careful question design to maintain participant comfort and ethical integrity (Patton, 2015, p. 443}. Examples of Interview Questions: 1..Can you describe your journey of deciding to get your first tattoo or piercing? 2. How did you feel about your self-image before getting body modifications, and how (if at all) did that change afterward? 3. Have you ever faced negative reactions or stigma due to your tattoos or piercings? How did you navigate those experiences? 4. Do you associate your body modifications with specific personal or cultural meanings? If so, can you elaborate? 5. Ifyou could tell a story about how your tattoos or piercings represent your identity, what would that story be? These questions are open-ended, exploratory, and reflective, encouraging participants to construct their narratives in their own words (Seidman, 2012, p. 9) Ethical Considerations Given the personal and potentially sensitive nature of the questions, several ethical considerations must be addressed: 1. Emotional discomfort: asking about self-perception and societal stigma may bring up painful memories. To mitigate distress: 1. Apre-interview briefing will be provided, allowing participants to opt out of any uncomfortable questions (Patton, 2015, p. 433). 2. Participants will have access to mental health resources if needed 2. Confidentiality and anonymity 1. Participants may fear judgment or discrimination for discussing theory body modifications. Ensuring anonymity in data reporting will protect their identities (Seidman, 2012, p. 12). 3, Power dynamics and informed consent 1. Participants should feel empowered to tell their stories freely. 2. A consent form will explain the study's purpose, how data will be used, and their right to withdraw at any time (Patton, 2015, p. 435). Sample Size Considerations The number of interviews should be sufficient to reach data saturation, where new interviews do not add significantly new insights (Guest, Bunce, Johnson, 2006, p.65). Research suggests 15-30 interviews may be appropriate for narrative inquiry, but this varies based on the complexity of themes emerging (Mason, 2010, p. 9). References Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Guest, G., Bunce, A., Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? An experiment with data saturation and variability. Field methods,18(1), 59-82. Mason, Mark (2010). Sample Size and Saturation in PhD Studies Using Qualitative Interviews [63 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 11(3), Art. 8, http:/bn-resolving.de/urm:nbn:de:0114-fgs100387