You are invited to participate in a research project titled Vehicular Vernacular: American Airstream Culture and Emerging Issues in Historic Preservation, conducted by Melina Bezirdjian from the University of Oregon’s Historic Preservation Program. The purpose of this study is to explore how Airstream culture demonstrates emerging issues in Historic Preservation. This thesis will use Airstream culture as a case study in order to examine the role of cultural conservation in the preservation of unconventional and/or impermanent structures.
If you decide to take part in this research project, you will be asked to participate in telephone or in person interview, lasting approximately one hour, during summer 2010. If you wish, interview questions will be provided beforehand for your consideration. Interviews will take place over the phone or at a conveniently located site. Interviews will be scheduled at your convenience. In addition to taking handwritten notes, with your permission, I will use an audio tape recorder for transcription and validation purposes. You may also be asked to provide follow-up information through phone calls or email. Digital photographs sent via email would also be much appreciated. In addition, I may be willing to drive to any in-person interviews for interested subjects located within a reasonable distance.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at
melina@uoregon.edu, or Dr. Roth at (541) 346-2130. Any questions regarding your rights as a research participant should be directed to the Office for the Protection of Human Subjects, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, (541) 346-2510.
Thank you in advance for your interest and consideration. I will contact you shortly to speak about your potential involvement in this study.
Sincerely,
Melina Bezirdjian
melina@uoregon.edu