About the study
Welcome! My name is Kat Geppert, and I'm a PhD candidate in sociology at Cornell University. I'm conducting an interview study about how people who have recently gotten married for the first time reflect on the process of "tying the knot" and starting married life.
How we, as a society, think about the transition into marriage has changed a lot over the past decades. Yet we know surprisingly little about how people today think about and make decisions about getting married.
If you live anywhere in the State of New York (NY) and have recently married for the first time, I'd love to hear about your experience. Complete this form to express interest and check if you're eligible!
Wedding & Starting Marriage Study
Participation
What's involved
Participating involves a semi-structured interview with open ended questions, followed by short survey to capture some basic demographic information.
Time commitment
The interview is expected to last 60-90 minutes, followed by a 2-minute online survey.
When and where
The interview will take place virtually over Zoom (or in person if preferred and location allows), so participants can join from a quiet, private space in which they feel comfortable.
Compensation
Participants will receive a link over email or text to choose a $20 e-gift card to one of many U.S. retailers, including Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc.
About the researcher
I'm a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. My research focuses on marriage, family life, and household dynamics. I'm particularly interested in understanding how people make decisions about marriage and how the role of marriage in contemporary society is changing.
I'm grateful to everyone who is willing to share their experiences and perspectives with me!
Kat Geppert
PhD Candidate, Cornell University
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the interview like?
The interview is a fairly casual, fully virtual conversation (unless participants prefer to speak in person and location proximity allows for an in-person conversation). Interviews typically last between 60-90 minutes. I will start by reviewing the privacy and confidentiality information pertaining to this study and asking for your verbal consent. I will then ask you open-ended questions about your experience getting married, including how you navigated the process leading up to the day and the decisions that were involved along the way, and what it is like being newly married.
There are no right or wrong answers, and I'm not looking for any particular response. I'm interested in learning about your unique experiences and perspective in your own words.
Interviews are audio-recorded, so that I can be fully present with you during the conversation, without having to worry about taking notes.
After the interview, you will be asked to complete a 2-minute online survey to share some basic demographic information.
Do I need to prepare anything?
No preparation is necessary. I'll guide the conversation.
Where should I be for my interview?
Interviews take place virtually over Zoom or in-person if preferred and if location and scheduling allows. For Zoom interviews, I recommend choosing a location that is comfortable for you and relatively quiet and private, such as in your home. For in-person interviews, meeting locations will be determined on a case-by-case basis but may include a quiet corner in a cofee shop or a meeting room in a pubic library.
Am I eligible?
Eligibility is determined through a brief interest form. If you're interested in participating, please complete the interest form and if it appears the study is a good fit, I'll follow up with additional information and to schedule the interview.
How is my privacy protected during the study?
The protection of your privacy and confidentiality is taken very seriously throughout this study. All the information you share with the researcher is entirely confidential and will be de-identified, for example, by using a pseudonym instead of your real name.
What if I have questions?
Email me at weddingstudy@cornell.edu. I will do my best to get back to you within 24 hours.