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Benefits and constraints of e-mail interviews and discussions as

methods of accessing valid data.

Dr Anne Roberts

2011

Methods@Plymouth 2011  

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Aims…….

This paper will discuss the benefits and constraints of e-mail interviews and discussion groups as methods of accessing valid data, based on two recent small studies conducted at the University of Plymouth.

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Using e-mail; and on-line discussions

Email interviews- asynchronous, in-depth,multiple e-mail exchanges, not viewed by others

On-line discussions-asynchronous, multiple e-mail exchanges, viewed by others

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Recent studies on which these reflections are based.

Email interviews on defining occupation.

6 occupational therapists around the world

Interpretative phenomenological analysis

On-line discussion as part of a practice scholar study.

12 participants in SW region

Thematic analysis

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Using e-mail and on-line discussions

Opportunities Not constrained to

local populations Cost: time & travel Accessibility Convenience Iterative Pace..time to reflect Familiar environment

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Using e-mail; and on-line discussion

Challenges Authenticity Mediation Absence of non verbal

communication, questions open to misinterpretation, lack of direct probing

Access to internet

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Ethical issues

Trust Expectations (how much time, how many times

they will be contacted) Consent Confidentiality Protection from harm Withdrawal

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Issues Recruiting a sample Length of study (Long drawn out studies lead to frustration and drop-outs

Hodgson 2004) depends on number of participants, number of questions, degree of commitment of participants and researcher/project timescale

Send questions 1 at a time? Embedded in the e-mail message rather than attached (Dommeyer and Moriarty 2000)

Delays in responding…how many reminders? Respond by dates. Authenticity (including offline interviews) Data quality comparable to face to face (Meho 2006) “reflectively dense

accounts” p1291 Communication- body language, advantages for sensitive or “difficult”

topics? Eliminates possible interviewer effects in asking the questions. Greater disclosure? Embellishment? Literacy? Empowering as in control (Meho 2006)

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References Dommeyer C J and Moriarty E (2000) Comparing two forms of an

e-mail survey: Embedded vs. attached. International Journal of Market Research 42 (1) 39-50

James N (2007) The use of e-mail interviewing as a qualitative method of inquiry in educational research. British Educational Research Journal

33 (6) 963-976 James N and Busher H (2007) Ethical issues in online educational research:

protecting privacy, establishing authenticity in e-mail interviewing. International Journal of Research & Method in Education 30 (1) 101-113

Kraut R, Olson J, Banaji M, Bruckman A, Cohen J, Couper M (2004) Psychological research online: report of board of scientific affairs’ advisory group on the conduct of research on the Internet. American Psychologist 59(2) 105-117

Meho L I (2006.) E-mail interviewing in qualitative research: a methodological discussion. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. 57 (10) 1284-1295

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Any questions?

Thank you for your attention.

Contact:

Dr Anne Robertsanne.roberts@plymouth.ac.uk

01752 851457