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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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
Interviews using visual methods
Drawings
Photographs
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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
Group and focus group interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
Group and focus group interviews
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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Variations in Qualitative Interviews
Group and focus group interviews
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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Locating Respondents & Presenting the Project
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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Locating Respondents & Presenting the Project
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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Locating Respondents & Presenting the Project
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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Planning the Interview
Constructing an interview guide or schedule
The interviewer typically starts with general
questions and follows up participants comments.
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Planning the Interview
Constructing an interview guide or schedule
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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Planning the Interview
Constructing an interview guide or schedule
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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Planning the Interview
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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Conducting the Interview
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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Conducting the Interview
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