Cheyenne Zaremba is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. Cheyenne is seeking participants for an uncompensated research study on how funerals respond to instances of disenfranchised grief and marginalized expressions of mourning and loss. All funeral professionals are encouraged to participate but funeral professionals who work with marginalized and underserved communities are particularly suited for this study.
What is the goal of this study?
This study seeks to understand current trends and transformations in performances, expressions, and cultural practices present in funerals. The goal of this research study is to collect presumed historical and cultural traditions associated with funeral practices and make inferences about emerging trends in funeral practices, particularly as they relate to marginalized communities and in the context of tragedies and crises.
Who qualifies for this interview call?
All funeral professionals including: funeral directors, funeral services assistants, funeral celebrants, ordained clergy and religious leaders who conduct funeral services, and any individuals who facilitate funeral services either part-time or full-time. Participants must have access to either a phone or digital audio video calling service (Zoom preferred).
How long with an interview take?
The length of the interview is up to how long the interviewee would like to talk. The guiding questions that will be shared with the interviewee should take no longer than 30 minutes to answer, but interviewees may choose to continue the conversation, ask questions, or explore other topics for up to an hour and a half.
Will my interview and personal information be shared or recorded?
Upon consenting to an interview, you will be asked if you are OK with your interview being recorded for the researcher’s purposes only. You may decline. If you consent, your interview will be recorded and stored on the researcher’s password protected computer until it is transcribed. Then the recording will be deleted. Your interview recording will not be shared with anyone. You will be referred to with a made-up name in the study unless you request to go by your real name. Your general location may be referenced but your place of work will not be named except for at your request.
Will there be compensation for participating in this study?
At this time, you will not be offered compensation for participating in an interview. Participation is entirely voluntary. You can decide at any time during the interview that you would like to stop.
How do I participate?
To participate in this research, contact Cheyenne Zaremba at cez5128@psu.edu. Please include the phrase “Responding to Call for Interviewees” in your email subject heading or email body. You should expect a response to your email no later than 72 hours after it is received.
If you would like to know more about Cheyenne and her research before participating, please visit https://zarembacheyenne.wixsite.com/cheyenne-zaremba to read more.
Principal Investigator:
Cheyenne Zaremba
Doctoral Candidate of Communication Arts and Sciences
Pennsylvania State University
316 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
585-413-6841
cez5128@psu.edu