Evaluate semi-structured, focus group, and narrative interviews

Question 1

Characteristics of the semi-structured interview (4)

Answer 1

• interview guide giving themes to explore
• open and closed questions can be used
• informal and conversational by nature
• mostly face-to-face

Question 2

Strengths of the semi-structured interview (3)

Answer 2

themes decided beforehand:

• researcher can delve deeper into a specific issue
• participant has room to elaborate
• useful in socially sensitive issues because themes can be explored fully

Question 3

Limitations the semi-structured interview (3)

Answer 3

• only limited space to explore themes that have not been planned beforehand
• one-to-one situ can seem artificial and raise questions of ecological validity
• data analysis is very time consuming

Question 4

Characteristics of the focus group interview (4)

Answer 4

• group of 6-10 people interviewed at same time
• facilitator introduces participants, asks questions and leads interactions
• participants supposed to interact as in real life
• participants discuss and respond to each others statements = rich data

Question 5

Strengths of the focus group interview (3)

Answer 5

• quick way to collect data from several diff participants
• provides natural setting for interactions = increase ecological validity
• may be useful in socially sensitive issues because people may be more likely to reveal how they think and why they experience what they do

Question 6

Limitations of the focus group interview (3)

Answer 6

• may raise ethical issues when participants are not free e.g. prison, nursing home
• presence of other participants may = conformity = data might not represent individuals beliefs
• if topic is very sensitive some may not wish to disclose private info

Question 7

Characteristics of a narrative interview (4)

Answer 7

• mix of facts and interpretations of experience that helps individual create meaning and identity
• often constructed like a real story with a beginning, middle and end
• interviewer stimulates narrative by asking question such as: “Could you tell me about the time when you were told you could never have children again?”
• interviewer does not interrupt unless prompting (“then what?”) but does show interest through body language

Question 8

Strengths of a narrative interview (3)

Answer 8

• useful way to gain an in-depth understanding of how people construct meaning in their lives
• can be used with anybody because they can use everyday language and talk freely
• may be useful in exploring socially sensitive issues because it gives insight into how people think and why they experience what they do
• minimises the influence of the researcher on the data

Question 9

Limitations of a narrative interview (3)

Answer 9

• time consuming to transcribe and analyse data from narrative interviews
• narrative may go in all directions because participants decide what to tell = not all data can be used
• ethical issues involved with people telling about traumatic experiences

Question 10

Evaluate semi-structured, focus group, and narrative interviews

Answer 10

Characteristics, strengths, limitations of:

• narrative interview
• focus group interview
• semi-structured interview