Lecture 8 - Qualitative Interviews Flashcards
What are Qualitative Interviews?
- Conversation between interviewer and respondent
* Purposeful conversation
* Broad plan of inquiry - Not the same as face-to-face surveys
* More interactive
Difference between Qualitative Interviews and face-to-face surveys?
Qualitative Interviews:
* Aim to explore in-depth thoughts, feelings, motivations, and experiences
Ex. “Why’ & “How”
Face-to-face surveys:
* Focus on collecting standardized data from a group to identify patterns, trends, or statistics
Ex. “What”, “When”, “How often”
Key Topics of Qualitative Interviews
- Best suited for exploratory research
- Inductively driven research
- Hard to reach populations
- Sensitive topics require trust
- Focus on experiences and perceptions
- Lived experiences
- How people think about their roles or identities
- Sole method of data collection or in combination with others
Chain of data
Rich, thick description ->
Understanding meaning ->
Multiple meanings & Interpretations
Interview Process:
Before Interview
Establish foundation:
* Who you will interview
(Who is relevant to RQ, population of interest?)
* What you will interview?
(Main topic, establish your base knowledge)
3 Interview Schedules:
* Structured
- All questions, follow-ups, and probes are pre-determined
- Semi-structured
- Pre-determined set of topics and questions, but can deviate and follow the conversation
- Unstructured
- No pre-set questions. May have general topic guidelines, but is completely free-flowing
Designing Interview Questions:
* Identify key topics that are relevant to the RQ (have knowledge of the topic!)
- Open and close-ended Q’s
- Easy to understand, unbiased, non-judgemental
- Question-ordering
- Natural and conversation-like
- Start with rapport building
- Focus on respondent’s experiences
- Active listening- adapt as u go
Interview Process: Conducting the Interview
Method:
* Ex. Phone, face-to-face, video conference call
Informed Consent:
* Consider safeguards for confidentiality
* Describe research
* Include any recording permissions
Develop Rapport:
* Consider style of dress
* Establish trust and comfortability - ease into it
Active Listening:
* Use probes: echo “uh huh”, “tell me more”, “what’s it like”
Interviewer Charactristics
* Reactivity - How you respond can impact participant responses
- Interviewer Bias:
- Interviewer expectations
- Reflexivity - Be critically conscious of your subjectivity
Interview Process: After the Interview
Field Notes:
* Interviewee reactions
* Quality of interaction
* Observations about the environment
Transcribe the interview:
* From recording or notes
* Word for word
Focus Groups
Small group discussions led by trained moderator(s)
* ~6-12 participants per group
* 1+ focus groups per study
Purpose: Elicit and understand range of opinions, experiences
* Used in early stages of research
Strengths:
* Generate range of perspectives efficiently
* Listen to how people talk to each other
* Provide “general feel” for consensus among group
Weaknesses:
* Influence of group dynamics
* Results not generalizable
Quality & Rigor
- Audit trail
- Negative cases
- Member checks
- Transferability
Field Research
Appropriate for topics best understood in their natural setting.
Good for understanding:
* Beliefs, norms, cultural practices
* Behavioural patterns
* Interactions between individuals or groups
* Roles
Field Roles
Complete Observer:
* Do not interact or participate
* Don’t disclose as researcher
Problem: No interaction - Might not get full picture
Observer-as-participant:
* Can interact, no involvement
* Role of researcher is known
Problem: Lose impartiality
Participant-as-observer:
* Full involvement
* Role of researcher is known
Problem: Lose impartiality
Complete Participant:
* Full involvement
* Role of researcher is not disclosed (pretend to be genuine member of study)
Problem:
* Ethical risks (Deception)
* Legal risks
* Physical risks
* Lack of impartiality
Gaining access & Entering the Field
Gatekeeper:
* Person who influences or controls researcher access
* Process varies depending on the structure and formality of the group (e.g. VPD vs drug using subculture)
Sampling:
* Probability sampling unlikely
* Purposive & snowball smapling are common
Recording Observations
Video, photo, audio
* Use any or a combination depending on the nature of the observations
Ex. traffic patterns, interviews
Field Notes
* Include direct observations and your interpretations
* Keep notes continuous - don’t trust memory
Structured Observations
* Standardized data collection form (AKA environmental survey)
Difficulties in observational studies on crime
- Most offences are rare and unpredictable
- Presence of observers may deter criminals or change behaviours
- Risk of danger to observers and other ethical issues
