Clinical Psychology: Methods (AJW) 2017

Interviews as a research method in Clinical PsychologyAO1 features of interviewing a research method in clinical psychology

Relevant examples from your knowledge of Vallentine et al

The researcher creates an interview schedule in advance:

The researcher will share the interview schedule with potential Pps and explain their rights including gathering informed consent

The interviewer will try to ensure a good rapport with the interviewee and use open questions to elicit qualitative data

The researchers may make process notes directly after the interview and then they will need to transcribe the data

The researchers will need to analyse the data, e.g. inductive content analysis (thematic analysis); close reading to the point of data saturation, then codes will be turned into categories/themes and “raw data” will be used to illustrate the themes ("hermeneutic method")The transcripts can be re-analysed by another researcher; in qualitative psychology this is called researcher triangulation and is a way of improving the trustworthiness of the data; however statistical devices such as Cohens Kappa can still be employed to check the level of agreement with regard tothe themes that have been derived (inter-rater reliability)Transcripts and analysis should be shared with Pps to check the credibility and trustworthiness.

This activity prompts you to think about the features of interviewing as a method in clinical psychology just like when we looked at case studies. In the left hand column you need to elaborate the point as best you can. Then, the right hand column, you need to elaborate your AO1 about interviewing as a method by showing your specific knowledge of an aspect of the Vallentine study.

Clinical Psychology: Methods (AJW) 2017

State a strength of interviewing

Provide elaboration from Vallentine et al (2010)

This is important because

State why this is particularly important in clinical psychology

Rich and detailed qualitative data can be provided

Can capture Pps experiences in their own words, the data collection is not limited by preconceptions of the researcher

One strength of interviewing as a research method in clinical psychology is…

Clinical Psychology: Methods (AJW) 2017

One weakness of interviewing as a research method in clinical psychology is…

State a weakness of interviewing

Provide elaboration from Vallentine et al (2010)

This is important because…

State why this is particularly important in clinical psychology

Social desirability bias

Sample bias; not everyone will agree to being interviewed

Interviewer bias

Inductive analysis is sometimes thought to be subjective and therefore unscientific