This is a link to a Google Doc version of this assignment.
Focus:
Nighttime time-wasting behaviors, bedtime habits after 10 p.m., bedtime revenge procrastination, use of free time, and factors that delay sleep (scrolling, texting, and watching movies, etc.)
Preparation Steps:
- Notetaker: Start the recording and enable closed captions. Pay attention to long pauses, changes in tone, and emotional cues when the participant talks about their most recent experience with nighttime time wasting. Note any difficulty recalling these behaviors.
- Interviewer: Confirm that the recording has started before beginning the interview.
Script:
Hi, my name is [name], and I’m currently a student in CS247B. We’re studying nighttime time-wasting, which is essentially the habit of staying up later than intended. This could be because you didn’t have any free time during the day, and staying up late felt like your only personal time, you procrastinated some homework, or because you got caught up scrolling, watching videos, or talking to people longer than you planned.
We would like to record this Zoom meeting for audio transcription and note-taking purposes. Would you be comfortable with that? The recording and all of your responses will be kept confidential.
Before we start, there are no right or wrong answers. We’re just interested in your experiences, so feel free to share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with.
Grand tour:
Can you walk me through a typical night for you, starting around 9 or 10 p.m. until when you fall asleep?
- What usually marks the point where you think, “I should go to bed”?
- What tends to happen right after that thought?
- Does this routine feel intentional or automatic? Does it just kind of happen?
Grand tour (extended):
Think about the most recent time you stayed up later than you planned. Can you describe that night in detail?
- What time did you plan to sleep vs. when you actually did?
- What were you doing during that extra time?
- Was there a moment where you considered stopping?
Probe if needed:
- Were you alone or interacting with others?
- Did anything external influence you (notifications, messages, videos autoplaying)?
Motivation and triggers:
What usually drives you to stay up late on nights like that?
- Is it more about relaxation, control, or avoiding responsibilities?
- Do you see it as “me time”?
- Does stress during the day make this more likely?
Motivation and triggers:
How does your daytime schedule influence your nighttime behavior?
- On busy days, does this happen more often?
- On days with free time earlier, does your bedtime change?
- Do weekdays and weekends feel different?
Activities and Awareness:
What activities tend to keep you up the longest?
- Which ones feel hardest to stop?
- Are these activities planned or spontaneous?
- How aware are you of time passing while doing them?
Probe if needed:
- Do you ever lose track of time completely?
- Do you check the clock, or avoid checking it?
Emotions and Consequences:
How do you usually feel while staying up late?
- Relaxed, guilty, stressed, rebellious, satisfied?
- Do those feelings change as it gets later?
- How do you feel the next morning?
Emotions and Consequences:
How does this habit affect your sleep, energy, or mood the next day?
- Does it impact productivity or focus?
- Does it change how you approach the next night?
Attempts to change:
Have you ever tried to change or control this habit?
- What strategies have you tried?
- What worked even a little?
- What made it hard to stick with?
Probe if needed:
- What would an “ideal” night look like for you?
Reflection:
What does staying up late give you that you don’t get during the day?
- If that need were met earlier, do you think this habit would change?
Final Question:
Is there anything about your nighttime routine or sleep habits that we didn’t talk about but you think is important?
Conclusion:
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. That’s all the questions I have for today. Your responses are really helpful and will stay confidential. If you have any questions for me or think of something later you’d like to add, feel free to reach out. Thanks again for your time.
