+ Eleanor Stanley www.eleanorstanley.co.uk Writing case studies
and interviewing service users
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+
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+ Overview Whats special about case studies? How case studies
can be used Behind the scenes The interview The writing process
Reworking existing transcripts Summing up: what makes a strong case
study?
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+ Learning outcomes By the end of this session you will have:
an awareness of the benefits of case studies and how to use them a
clear understanding of what you need in place to ensure good case
studies 3 tips for conducting effective interviews, writing up case
studies and reworking existing transcripts
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+ Share your name, job title, organisation and what you had for
breakfast Activity 1: Icebreaker
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+ Whats special about case studies? A scenario or story to
demonstrate rather than describe a message Individuals, groups or
processes Human interest or real-life context bypassing the
intellect to create emotional responses Moves from problem to
solution, sharing learning Using peoples voices increases
authenticity Charity case studies vs journalism
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+ How we use case studies Features and news stories Fundraising
and marketing materials Reports including annual reports,
briefings, learning papers, funding applications Books Websites
Media information and press releases
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+ Example 1: 5 things you should know about dementia,
Alzheimers Society
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+ Behind the scenes Finding potential case studies Managing
contacts Consent and confidentiality Selecting the right person
Maintaining ongoing contact good manners!
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+ www.charitycomms.org.uk
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+ The interview The options: face to face, telephone, email
Preparing: contact, venue, equipment, follow-up Questions: content,
structure and advance warning Key focus: before, after and what
your charity did The magic ingredient: active listening Timings
Communication challenges and carers
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+ Example 2: Having a Premature Baby, Tommys
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+ Select the best 15 questions to use in a case study interview
Activity 2: 20 questions
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+ Interview tips Start with the easy questions Use journalistic
skills to elicit detail and examples Focus on eliciting strong
quotes on both negative and positive topics Sense where to probe
and where to pull back Dont be afraid of silence Keep the output in
mind
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+ Work in pairs to play the role of interviewer and interviewee
Activity 3: Interview role play
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+ Interviewing for Journalists Sally Adams, Wynford Hicks 2001
Developing key skills active listening interviewing
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+ The writing process Transcribe the interview Write the piece,
focusing on format, objectives and audience Move from problem to
solution Combine quotes with complementary information Sign
off
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+ Writing tips Getting started: highlight the most evocative
passages Dont shy away from painful feelings but keep the overall
tone positive Edit quotes with care but do edit Return to the
interviewee where needed
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Example 3: Stepping out, Arthritis News
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+ Highlight four key passages in the transcript provided
Activity 4: Hunting out strong quotes
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+ Reworking existing transcripts Common scenarios: fewer quotes
or less human interest. What can you do? Restructure with
signposting and standfirsts Rework quotes Go back for more quotes
and pictures Use stats, bullets, box out info, visuals If its
repurposed, sign off again?
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+ Example 4: Empowering communities to prepare for cyclones,
IFRC
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+ Summing up What makes a good case study? Telling an engaging,
authentic story Describing challenges en route to a positive
outcome Conveying key desired messages Respecting the speakers and
meeting standards Getting there is a science and an art If done
well, case studies work!
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+ Learning outcomes By the end of this session you will have:
an awareness of the benefits of case studies and how to use them a
clear understanding of what you need to do them well 3 tips for
conducting effective interviews, writing up case studies and
reworking existing transcripts
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+ Eleanor Stanley www.eleanorstanley.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/eleanorstanley