Week 4, Unit 1 Qualitative Interviewing

7/27/2019 Week 4, Unit 1 Qualitative Interviewing

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Qualitative Interviewing

Chapter 10


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Introduction

Qualitative interviews

A data collection method in which an interviewer adaptsand modifies the interview for each interviewee.


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Introduction

Qualitative interviews may be used as the sole

form of data collection for a study or may be

combined with another form of data collection.

Qualitative interviews coupled with observation istypical

Observational techniques

Methods of collecting data by observing people,most typically in their natural settings.


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Qualitative versus Structured

Interviews

Qualitative interviews versus structured

interviews

Similarities

Differences


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Focal Research

Managing Motherhood in Prison by Sandra

Enos

A sociologist whose research interests

included both families and corrections,combined these interests with a study on how

the social processes of mothering are worked

out when mothers are in prison

Qualitative interviews


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Focal Research

Ethics

Enos submitted her proposal to her universitys

Institutional Review Board (IRB) where it was

approved.

All of the women interviewed in this research

volunteered and gave informed consent before being

interviewed.

All information was kept confidential, although each

participant was cautioned about the legal limits ofconfidentiality, and no participants actual name is used

by Enos.


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Variations in Qualitative Interviews

Number and length of interviews

Depending on the survey type, participants

maybe interviewed only once or several times.

Length of time will vary by participant and howmuch information or open-ended response they

provide.

Typically participants are encouraged to talk as

much or as little as they would like.


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Degree of structure

Qualitative interviews can vary from unstructuredto semi-structured interactions.

Semi-Structured Interview Interview with an interview guide containing primarily

open-ended questions that can be modified for eachinterview.

Interview guide the list of topics to cover and the

order in which to cover them that can be used toguide less structured interviews.


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Degree of structure

Constructing questions ahead of time makesthe interviewers job easier to help ensure alltopics are covered.

Semi-structured interviews are most useful ifyou know in advance the kinds of questions toask, feel fairly sure that you and theinterviewees speak the same language, and

plan an analysis that requires the sameinformation from each participant.


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Degrees of structure

Unstructured Interview

A data collection method in which the interviewer

starts with only a general sense of the topics to bediscussed and creates questions as the interaction

proceeds.

Start with a sense of what information is needed and

formulate questions as the interview unfolds

Flexibility in questioning can provide insight into theparticipants viewpoint

Very interactive


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Interviews using visual methods

Drawings

Photographs


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Interviews using visual methods

Photo-interviewing

A data collection technique using photographs to

elicit information and encourage discussionusually in conjunction with qualitative interviewing


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Joint interviewers

Have 2 or more interviewers

Joint interview maybe used at first so that

researchers develop similar interviewing styles Uncommon method


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Group and focus group interviews

A group interview has one interviewer and two

or more interviewees

Individuals in a group are selected because theyhave something in common

Examples: married couple, members of the same

church, teachers from schools in different towns, or

patients in a given hospital Can use either a predetermined set or questions

or an unstructured format


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Focus group interview

A special kind of group interview, where

participants converse with each other and haveminimal interaction with a moderator.

Can be used alone or in combination with

other forms of data collection, preceding or

supplementing a questionnaire or structuredinterview.


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Focus groups generally have between 3 and

12 participants

They are homogenous on the characteristic forwhich they were recruited

Example: People who have been recently

widowed or have specific health concerns

The participants usually do not know eachother

Also used for market research


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Concerns

Some voices might not be heard

Participants are less likely to reveal specificbehaviors and experiences

Sample size limited generalizability due to small

and nonrandom samples

Ethical concerns for participants to keepconfidential the information provided by others.


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Locating Respondents & Presenting the Project

The researcher must decide on the populationand the kind of sample before locating potentialinterviewees and contacting them.

Qualitative researchers are frequently interestedin studying groups of people for whom there areno lists

For example mothers in prison, people withdepression, fathers who do not live with theirchildren, etc.


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Issues of Validity

Validity issues still remain with qualitativeinterviews as with other self-report methods.

Inaccurate memories

Misunderstandings Miscommunications

Typically researchers believe interviewees tellthe truth as they understand it and rarely offer

false information knowingly


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Researchers typically use friendship networks,newspaper ads, notices on bulletin boards,announcements at meetings, posts on websites,blogs, discussion groups or emails to recruitparticipants.

Snowball samples are useful

Participants are often contacted through a

gatekeeper.


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Gatekeepers

Are individuals who can get a researcher into

a setting or facilitate access to participants.

Example Parents and guardians of children under 18, the

heads of institutions, community organizations,

agencies, or groups whose members you want to

contact


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Some researchers provide participants with

incentives for participating

Including food, small gifts, gift certificates,

payment


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Planning the Interview

Using consent forms

IRBs typically require interviewers to use a

written informed consent form.

Informed consent formA statement that describes they study and the

researcher and formally requests participation


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Constructing an interview guide or schedule

The interviewer typically starts with general

questions and follows up participants comments.


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If using a semi-structured interview you will need toconstruct a list of questions, both basic and follow-up questions to gather information

Less structured interviews start with broadinteresting questions

The guidelines for questions in chapter 9 are alsotrue for qualitative interviews

Avoid double-barreled, double-negative, or threateningquestions and avoid wording that is ambiguous orleading


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After constructing the interview guide, it should

be pilot tested with people similar to those who

will be interviewed during data collection The list of questions can continue to evolve

during the course of data collection.


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Speaking the same language

It is essential for the interviewer and

interviewee to literally speak the same

language It is important to be familiar with the culture of

your participants


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Conducting the Interview

Where and how to interview

Interviews can be held in offices, in the interviewees

home, or elsewhere

If privacy is needed it is important to consider in

scheduling and child care may need to be offered.

The interviewers should strive to be nonjudgmental

in voice tone, phrasing of questions, and body

language

Interviewer needs to be an active listener


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Recording the interview

Recordings are essential in data analysis

The interviewer can be a more active listener

when they are not writing everything down. Be cautious recordings can intimidate

participants and inhibit frankness


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Being Real in the Interview

In traditional qualitative interviewing theinterviewer does not share judgments, opinions,or real conversation

Uses a style that gives evidence of interest andunderstanding in what is being said by nodding,smiling, etc.., but does not share opinions or anypersonal information

Critics of the traditional interview format arguethat the interviewer and interviewee should treateach other as full human beings, to allowdevelopment of a closer relationship


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Interviewing Across the Great

Divides Researchers using interviews need to think

about interviewer effect

Interviewer effect

The change in a respondent's behavior oranswers that is the result of being interviewed bya specific interviewer.

The researchers identities, such as class, race,

sexual orientation can affect all aspects of theresearch process, including data collection


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Interviewing Across the Great

Divides Matching interviewers and interviewees on social

characteristics such as gender, race, age, ethnicity,

and class may be considered desirable.

Similar backgrounds are thought to develop a better

rapport

Depending on the topic discussed dissimilar

backgrounds may be desired

Men typically prefer to be interviewed by women


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Stop and Think

Imagine that youre almost at the end of an

interview on college students relationships

with significant others.

After describing how the most recent loverelationship ended, the student youre

interviewing looks up and says, Im so

depressed, I feel like killing myself.

What would you do?


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After the Interviews Over

If covering an emotionally difficult topics, researchersmight need to prepare for the emotional aftermath or arequest for help.

Include a series of cool down questions at the end of

the interview so the interview does not end immediatelyafter talking about sensitive subjects.

Prepare something to leave with the participants

List of local organizations that provide services in thearea under discussion

Locate or provide counseling or therapy sessions for theinterviewee


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After the Interviews Over

Analyzing interview data

If the interview has been recorded, it is then

transcribed.

Transcription is a time-consuming process Process of analyzing data is typically more

inductive

The researcher should approach data analysis

with an open mind and read the data forcommon patterns or themes.


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Summary

Advantages

Disadvantages


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QuizQuestion 1

Qualitative interviews are very appropriate

when the purpose of research is

a. investigatory.

b. explanatoryc. critique

d. exploratory

e. causal.


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Quiz - Question 2

The purpose of qualitative interviewing is to

a. understand how individuals subjectively see

the world and make sense of their lives.

b. test theoretical propositions.c. obtain comparable data from a large

population.

d. engage respondents in a conversation that

may help them to understand their situations

e. provide date for statistical analysis.


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QuizQuestion 3

Consent forms

a. provide information to the respondent on the

nature of the research.

b. ensures confidentiality and anonymity.c. provides contact information on the principal

investigator.

d. are approved by the IRB prior to the

interview.

e. All of the above

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Week 4, Unit 1 Qualitative Interviewing