Planning and conducting interviews Flashcards
What are the 4 key components of constructing an interview schedule?
1) Identify topics and questions that are relevant to the research question
2) Phrase questions in a way that encourages the interviewee to describe their experience in detail
3) Use a logical order
4) Consider how to build rapport and help the interviewee feel comfortable before being asked sensitive questions
A good schedule design allows interviewees to …?
Describe their experience in their own words and in detail, resulting in rich data or thick description
How should an interview schedule be constructed? List 7 requirements
1) Start by building rapport
2) Have a logical order e.g. moving from general to specific experiences
3) Group related questions
4) Mostly open questions
5) Include probes and follow up questions to elicit rich and detailed descriptions
6) Save questions on sensitive topics for later in the interview
7) Use language that is accessible, clear and easy to understand
Poor schedule design reduces interviewee…?
Engagement resulting in weak data
What makes an interview schedule poor? List 6 mistakes
1) Failing to build rapport at the start (putting interviewee in a difficult position from the very start, reluctant to share sensitive info)
2) Posing questions in an illogical order e.g. starting with specific or sensitive questions
3) Asking leading (Ps may agree with you out of politeness and not give their own opinions) or closed questions (does not ask about Ps own experiences)
4) Asking judgemental or critical questions (interviewees may feel threatened and less likely to open up)
5) Asking complex or double barrelled questions (e.g. asking Ps to describe 2 very different things at the same time, Ps don’t know where to start and may not answer both parts of the question)
6) Inaccessible language e.g. jargon, technical and scientific terms
What is the role of interviewers?
To encourage Ps to speak
The interviewer talks less and asks more probing questions
What kind of conditions/atmosphere do good interviewers create?
Conditions that help Ps to give detailed and honest description of their experiences
What are the aims of good interviewers? List 5
1) Create a safe environment
2) Address ethical issues: consent, confidentiality, post interview support
3) Care for the interviewees well-being
4) Be flexible and self aware of verbal and body language
5) Understand the interview schedule well enough that you can use it flexibly (not constantly looking at the schedule) and pay attention to what Ps have to say
What do interviewers aim to achieve with their non verbal communication? List 2 aims
1) Convey interest (open body stance) and openness while maintaining appropriate boundaries
2) Avoid conveying judgement
What type of language should interviewers use? List 4
1) Positive encourages
2) Probes and prompts to seek clarity and deeper understanding
3) Silences (to give floor back to Ps so they expand more on their points; Ps may feel the need to fill the silence by talking more)
4) Avoid premature closure
When interviewers use “Mm..uh-huh…ok” what is this an example of?
Positive encourages
When interviewers use “you talked previously about…could you tell me a bit more about that” what is this an example of?
Using probes and prompts to seek clarity and deeper understanding
When interviewers use “Could you tell me more about that?” or “Ia there anything you’d like to add?” what is this an example of?
Avoiding premature closure
A researcher is conducting a study on student experiences of online learning but they have limited time and funding for conducting research.
Which interview type should they use? Why?
a. Structured
b. Semi structured
c. Unstructured
d. Focus group
d. Focus group
Because it allows researchers to collect data from multiple people at once and so are very efficient use of resources.
A researcher is conducting a study exploring sex workers experiences of GP services, but this is a notoriously hard to reach group.
Which interview type should they use? Why?
a. Structured
b. Semi structured
c. Unstructured
d. Focus group
c. Unstructured
Because they are empowering for the interviewee so they may gain something valuable from participating. This makes it more likely that they will recommend the study to the people they know who are on the same boat
