Toolkit 10 Researching People Through Interviews And Focus Groups Flashcards
Does participatory involvement suggest one way or two way contribution?
Two way involvement and contribution
What are semi structured interviews?
Sensitive, open ended, probing questions can naturally flow into discussions yielding useful information
Interviewer needs to be well versed in background literature and relevant policy documents in order to particle appropriately
Y
What are the advantages of SSI over structured?
Flexibility
Tailored to specific situations
Outcome of interviewers can be unexpected- spontaneous unrehearsed
Throw up new avenues for investigation
Make note of hidden transcripts- what isn’t said
Why is it important to record interviews?
For later analysis and verification
Need to be able to attribute quotes to people
What are the disadvantages of using a dictaphone to record interviews?
Can make interviewee self conscious
Transcription is also time consuming
Misses out vital hand gestures ect that may be important
What to do at the beginning of a group interview or focus group?
Give a brief overview Ethics Consent Name badges Rules
What is a focus group?
Elements of both participant and interviews. Often used in laer studies using surveys but also interviews
They are in depth and should have a central topic, an object, text or focus and is not just a group conversation
Interactive
Spontaneous
Collective as well as individual self identity
Important group size aspects to consider when conducting a focus group?
Maximum 12 participants but ideally 6 to 10
The amount that the group is likely to have to say
The sensitivity or complexity of the issue
The breadth and depth required
The population group
The structure and tasks involved in the session
What group composition aspects should be considered when carrying out a focus group
Balance between heterogeneity and homogeneity
Purposive selective sampling
Respondents need proximity to the subject
Sociodemographic makeup of the group
Diversity maybe needed
Problems of respondent selection:
Recruitment issues: money, non-monetary incentives
What are Tuckman and Jenson (1977) 5 stages of a focus group that should be passed through
1) forming- individuals are guarded, anxious, reluctant or the opposite and dependant. This is a good stage for background information
2) storming - intragrlup conflict and criticism
3) Normimg- cohesion, optimism, agreement
4) performing- more open communication and cohesiveness
5) adjourning- termination,separation of the group
What are the practicalities of. Focus group that should be thought about?
Length , it should be between 60 and 90 minutes. No longer than 120
Should be refreshments and should be in a comfortable place
Should have a formal start outline the topic and introduce yourself
Expectations of participants - ground rules, no talking over each other
What ethical issues need to be considered?
Confidentiality and anonymity Summary of the research at the end All ,members confidentiality Sexist, racist and offensive views Different cultural contexts (longhurst, 2008)
Advantages of focus groups
Fast and quick way to collect data. Opportunity to observe a large amount of interaction
Less time and effort needed to generate a similar amount of data
Also generate discussion and are less influenced. Y the interviewer than in a one on one situation
Disadvantages of focus group?
,as not be as I depth and personal Unnatural social setting Have to be well managed Less control than interviews Less generability Data is hard to analyse People may not turn up
What should focus groups not be?
Should not be a cheap replacement for Individual interviews but instead they should be used where the group aspect is important and useful
