Reading Module 2 - “The Qualitative Research Interview”

Question 1

Unstructured interviews

Answer 1

• conducted in conjunction with the collection of observational data
• no interview can truly be considered unstructured and are equivalent to guided conversations
• questions emerge over time as the investigator learns about settings

Question 2

Semi-structured interviews

Answer 2

• often the sole data source for a qualitative research project
• usually scheduled in advance
• generally organized around a set of pre-determined open-ended questions, with other questions emerging from the dialogue

Question 3

Two types of structured interviews

Answer 3

Individual in-depth interviews:

- allows interviewer to delve deeply into social and personal matters
- used to co-create meaning with interviewees by reconstructing perceptions of events and experiences
- used for a large range of questions
- basic research question needs to be sufficiently focused

Group interview:

- allows interviewer to get a wider range of experience
- often makes use of focus groups

Question 4

Stages of rapport

Answer 4

1. Apprehension: characterized by uncertainty stemming from the strangeness of a context
   a. Goal: get the interviewee talking
2. Exploration: interviewee becomes engaged in in-depth descriptions; listening, learning, testing and a sense of bonding and sharing
3. Co-operation: characterized by a comfort level in which participants are not afraid of offending someone; great time to ask questions that were too sensitive to ask at the beginning
4. Participation: reflects the greatest degree of rapport and at this point the interviewee takes on the role of guiding and teaching the interviewer

Question 5

Ethical issues

Answer 5

Four ethical issues:

1. Reducing the risk of unanticipated harm
2. Protecting the interviewee’s information
3. Effectively informing interviewees about the nature of the study
4. Reducing the risk of exploitation