Interviewing Flashcards
What are interviews in the context of qualitative research methods?
Interviews are a versatile data collection method without inherent methodological assumptions. The focus is on face-to-face interactions, excluding focus groups.
How are different types of interviews categorised?
Interviews are categorised based on the level of control over the information flow from the interviewee. Different levels of control result in different types of information.
What is the significance of rapport-building in interviews?
Building rapport is crucial for encouraging interviewees to disclose information, including both expected data and unexpected insights the researcher might not have anticipated.
What are the four main types of interviews based on the level of control?
- Informal: Minimal structure, often used in the early stages of research for building rapport and uncovering new topics.
- Unstructured: A clear plan with minimal control, suitable for initial rapport-building, individuals who prefer less structure, life stories, and sensitive topics.
- Semi-structured: The most common type, using an interview guide with flexibility in question order and probing.
- Structured: Highly controlled format with identical stimuli (questions and probes) for different interviewees.
What are the key principles of ethical and professional interviewing?
- Anonymity and Confidentiality: Assure participants of their privacy and data protection.
- Consent: Always obtain permission for recording and note-taking.
- Transparency: Be open and honest about research intentions, which also contributes to rapport-building.
What are effective ways to encourage meaningful information sharing during interviews?
- Clarity: Clearly explain the research goals and the importance of the interviewee’s perspective.
- Encouragement: Invite interviewees to share anything they deem important, even beyond the structured questions.
- Focus and Flexibility: Maintain focus on the topic while allowing the interviewee to guide the content.
What is probing in interviews, and why is it important?
Probing involves using various techniques to elicit more information from interviewees without leading them. It’s a key distinguishing feature of interviews compared to surveys.
What are some common probing techniques in interviews?
- Silence: Allowing pauses for reflection and encouraging deeper insights.
- Echo: Repeating the interviewee’s words to show active listening and prompt further elaboration.
- Affirmative Comments: Using cues like “uh-huh” and “continue, please” to convey engagement.
- “Tell Me More”: Encouraging detailed explanations.
- Long Question: Rephrasing a question to elicit more information or highlight specific aspects of interest.
- Directive Probing: Using previous information to explore new avenues within a topic.
- Bating: Presenting a statement or assumption (potentially incorrect) to prompt a response and uncover hidden information.
What are some challenges in handling verbal and non-verbal responses during interviews?
- Managing Talkative Interviewees: Gracefully guiding the conversation to stay on track.
- Interpreting “I Don’t Know”: Understanding the various meanings behind this response and probing further when appropriate.
What are some key considerations for conducting effective interviews?
- Focus: Keep interviews centred on a few key issues to maintain engagement and avoid appearing unprepared.
- Practice: Rehearse interviewing skills in similar situations to improve proficiency.
- Language and Cultural Competence: Adapt language and approach to the context for building rapport.
- Pacing: Manage interview schedules to prevent fatigue and ensure consistent data quality.
- Follow-Up: Consider returning to early informants for additional insights based on subsequent learning.
- Self-Presentation: Adopt a non-judgmental and authentic approach, adapting to specific situations as needed.
- Setting Control: Choose appropriate interview locations to minimise reactivity and enhance comfort.
- Recording and Note-Taking: Document interviews while ensuring consent and potentially offering interviewees control over recording.
What are some factors that can trigger reactivity and affect interview data?
- Interviewer-Related Factors: Perception biases, gender, race, language, and culture.
- Interviewee-Related Factors: Deference to perceived social status, social desirability bias, the presence of third parties, and threatening questions.
- Environmental Factors: Privacy and the chosen communication medium (face-to-face, telephone, internet).
What are some challenges related to accuracy in interview data?
People may provide inaccurate information due to:
- Pressure to Respond: Feeling obligated to answer even when unsure.
- Estimation Rules: Using mental shortcuts to recall common behaviours, especially from the distant past.
- Inference Rules: Making assumptions based on perceived patterns.
What are aided recalls, and how can they improve accuracy in interviews?
Aided recalls are techniques used to assist interviewees in remembering events more accurately. They include:
- Landmarks: Using significant events as reference points to improve recall and timeline accuracy.
- Event and Life History Calendars: Creating visual aids to help interviewees map out events and provide more detailed information.
What are the key findings from Chan Tack & Small’s (2017) study on friendship formation in violent neighbourhoods?
The study, using semi-structured interviews with students, parents, and teachers in Chicago, found that children in violent neighbourhoods use strategic and adaptive approaches to make friends. These strategies, often based on minimizing risk, differ from the primarily affective processes observed in conventional contexts.
How did the semi-structured interview method contribute to the findings in Chan Tack & Small’s study?
The flexible nature of semi-structured interviews allowed researchers to uncover unexpected themes, such as the prevalence of violence as a factor in friendship choices, which wasn’t initially part of the research design.
What were the key design details of the interviews in Chan Tack & Small’s study?
- Format: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews lasting 45-90 minutes.
- Timeline: Interviews conducted over an academic year, with follow-up interviews with parents and staff the following year.
- Sample: Purposive selection of students in grades 6-8 (ages 11-15) from two public schools in Chicago’s South Side who had experienced school changes.
- Participants: Interviews included students, parents, and teachers.
What strategies were used to minimise reactivity and build rapport in Chan Tack & Small’s study?
- Researcher Characteristics: Two female, ethnically black researchers (Caribbean and African American) were involved, one at each school.
- Environment: Interviews were conducted in private rooms on school grounds.
- Ethical Considerations: Parental consent forms were used, and the purpose of the interviews was fully disclosed. Participants were informed of their right to refuse questions and end the interview.
- Incentives: Participants received $20 in cash for their participation.
- Informal Interactions: Researchers spent time outside of interviews interacting with students, parents, and teachers in various school settings.
- Self-Presentation: Researchers adopted open, non-threatening, and non-authoritative demeanours during interviews.
How was the interview protocol structured in Chan Tack & Small’s study?
- Progression: Questions moved from less sensitive topics, like personal background and academic ambitions, to more sensitive ones related to friendships and perceptions of their social environment.
- Content: Questions covered topics like the number and nature of friendships, routine social activities, understanding of friendship, adaptation to new classmates, and relationships with other peers.
- Adult Perspectives: Interviews with parents and teachers focused on their perceptions of the children and how they make friends.
How was data analysed in Chan Tack & Small’s study?
All interviews were transcribed and coded multiple times, refining categories to identify confirming and disconfirming evidence for emerging themes.
What were the strengths and limitations of the interview method in Chan Tack & Small’s study?
- Reach: The interviews provided rich data on how individuals perceive and make decisions about their social circumstances.
- Limits: The study lacked systematic observational data on interactions and couldn’t capture the entire school network structure, limiting insights into the influence of broader social conditions.
