Research Interviews

Question 1

Describe Unstructured Interviews

Answer 1

-Researcher only uses an aide memoire
-May only be a single question
-Very similar to a conversation
-Vague or general research focus

Question 2

Describe Semi-structured interview

Answer 2

-Researcher uses a list of questions (interview guide)
-Similar wording used for all interviewees
-Researcher may include questions not in the guide
-Used for multiple case study research, so can be carried out by multiple researchers

Question 3

How to prepare an interview guide

Answer 3

-Create some order using topic areas
-Interview questions should address research questions
-Language should be comprehensible and relevant to respondents
-Avoid leading questions
-Pilot the guide with selected respondents and revise on feedback
-Record contextual information about respondents.

Question 4

What are the different types of interview questions?

Answer 4

-Introducing questions
-Follow-up questions
-Probing questions
-Specifying questions
-Interpreting questions
-Silence

Question 5

Topics to cover in interviews

Answer 5

-Formal and informal roles
-Behaviour and emotions
-Values and beliefs
-Relationships and encounters
-Places and locales
-Stories

Question 6

Why is it important to record interviews?

Answer 6

-Corrects natural limitation of memory
-Facilitates better empathy and listening during interview
-Permits repeated examination of answers
-Allows data to be reused in new ways

Question 7

What are the advantages of qualitative interviews over participant observation?

Answer 7

-Can explore issues resistant to observation
-Reconstruction of past events
-Less problematic ethically
-Longitidinal research is easier
-Greater breadth of coverage

Question 8

Advantages of participant observation over interviews

Answer 8

-Seeing through others’ eyes
-Learning the native language
-Deviant and hidden activities
-Context-sensitive
-Natrualstic emphasis