Ch 11. Interviewing in Qualitative Research

Question 1

What is the most widely used method in qualitative research?

Answer 1

Interview

Question 2

Ethnography usually involves a substantial amount of…

Answer 2

…qualitative interviewing

Question 3

What are the two main types of qualitative interviews?

Answer 3

unstructured and semi-structured

Question 4

Qualitative interviewing is less structured and more likely to evolve as a…

Answer 4

…natural conversation

Question 5

What are the differences between qualitative interviewing and quantitative?

Answer 5

Qualitative is much more open-ended, has a greater interest in the interviewee’s perspectives, and tangents are encouraged.

Question 6

In unstructured interviewing, the researcher uses only

Answer 6

a brief set of points to introduce topics and the respondents’ answers are in free form.

Question 7

in semi-structured interviews, the researcher has a list of questions or topics to be covered which

Answer 7

offers a somewhat longer interview guide than unstructured and it’s useful when there is more than one interviewer.

Question 8

What questions do you have when you’re preparing for a qualitative interview guide?

Answer 8

What is interesting about this issue? Just what about this thing is puzzling me?

Question 9

Before the Interview, it’s important to:

Answer 9

1. familiarize yourself with the setting
2. good recording device and know how to use it
3. quiet/private setting
4. use good interview techniques (active listening)

Question 10

After the interview, note the following (4)

Answer 10

1. How the interview went
2. Where the interview was conducted
3. Other feelings and issues raised during the interview
4. What was going on around the interview

Question 11

Kinds of Questions in interviews

Answer 11

1. introducing questions
2. follow-up questions
3. probing questions
4. specifying questions (factual)
5. direct questions: interview perceptions
6. indirect questions: perceptions of others

Question 12

The use of silence in interviews.

Answer 12

A pause will give the interviewee an opportunity to reflect and amplify an answer, but don’t pause for so long that the interviewee feels embarrassed.

Question 13

what’s the primary intent of the interview?

Answer 13

to listen to the interviewee

Question 14

Values
Beliefs
Behaviour
Formal/informal roles
Relationships
Places
Emotions
Encounters
Stories

Anything part of the human experience

Answer 14

Qualitative Interview Topic

Question 15

Transcribe only the parts you need because

Answer 15

transcription is expensive and slow (5-6 hours to do 1 hour) and training is required.

Question 16

In interviews, you need to be able to vary the order of questions and clear up inconsistencies in answers. What else is important?

Answer 16

Flexibility: maybe audio recording equipment malfunction or interviewee refused permission for recording to take place.

Question 17

In order to reflect on reflexivity on how your own interactions with participants have affected (3):

Answer 17

1. what was said
2. how it was said
3. what was left unsaid

Question 18

are an interview with a group of four or more people who can interact with one another and the interviewer

Answer 18

Focus Groups

Question 19

The value of focus groups is gaining access to the meanings that…

Answer 19

…develop during the interaction with others rather than in isolation

Question 20

Makes sure the discussion stays on the issue without directing too much. Makes sure all the people participate

Answer 20

Moderator//Facilitator

Question 21

(Focus Groups) Researchers should conduct 10-15 groups and more if

Answer 21

for demographics that are diverse

Question 22

Conduct focus groups until you hit

Answer 22

theoretical saturation when researchers can predict what will be said and no substantial new information is coming from the groups

Question 23

Size of the focus groups depends on the topic/goals of the research. Morgan (1998) recommends:

Answer 23

6-10 people

Question 24

What are the benefits of a small group?

Answer 24

controversial, complex, emotional
opportunities can arise that do not happen in large group settings

Question 25

people who already know each other or have had some interaction

Answer 25

Natural groups

Question 26

Advantages/Disadvantages of Natural Groups

Answer 26

Advantages: may be appropriate, depending on the goals of the research. useful if the research is about how social interaction occurs

Disadvantages: pre-existing styles and taken-for-granted assumptions of interaction may affect the discussion

Question 27

Amount of intervention taken by the moderator depends on (3)

Answer 27

The topic of the discussion
How much knowledge the participants have
The goals of the research