Week 5 Lecture 5: Interviews Flashcards
ethnography or participant observation purpose/aim
learn about behaviours, interactions in natural settings, studying cultural aspects of a setting, particular concepts
in depth interviews purpose/aim
explore individual experiences and perceptions in rich detail
focus groups purpose/aim
generate unique insights into shared experiences and social norms
document review and/or film review purpose/aim
identify patterns of communication, decscribe characetristics of organisations or processes
approaches to interviewing (different purposes) (5)
- journalistic interviews (entertainment)
- job interviews (assess suitability for job competitively/comparitively)
- police interviews (figure out what happened/if you are guilty)
- history taking or clinical interviews (get medical history for diagnosis)
- research interviews (research)
all have different purposes
Forms of interview
3
- structured
- semi-structured
- unstructured
look at photo of flow chart, use goodnotes tape
Structured interviews
= verbal questionnaire according to pre-set list of questions in set order
- quantitative
Semi-structured interviews
= list of themes to initiate conversation, some pre-set questions, no pre-set order
Unstructured interviews
= in-depth interviews, questions depend on previous answers, interview directed mainly by informant
In-depth interview (Lofland, 1983)
= “guided conversation” (Lofland, 1983)
In-depth interview (Minichiello, Aroni, Hay, 2008)
= “Conversation for the purposes of research between the researcher and informant focusing on the informant’s perception of self, life and experience, expressed in his or her own words” (Minichiello, Aroni, Hay, 2008)
Should you use semi-structured or in-depth interviews? ( questions to ask self) (6)
- Does the purpose of your research suggest using semi-structured or in-depth interviews?
- Will it help to seek personal contact in terms of gaining access to participant and their data?
- Are your data collection questions large in number, complex or open-ended?
- Will there be a need to vary the order and logic of questioning?
- Will it help to be able to probe interviewee’s responses to build on or seek explanation of their answers?
- Will the data collection process with each individual involve a relatively lengthy period?
When to use in-depth interviews (11)
- want individual perspectives
- addressing sensitive topics
- when there are concerns about fears of reprisal
- when structured survey approaches do not work (questions missed the point)
- exploratory and ‘testing’ research
- understanding why people believe they behave in the ways they do
- understand what meaning people ascribe to events, actions, behaviours
- understand experience of group of people
- understand culture of group of people
- gather how people make sense of everyday lives/activities
- gather what common set of symbols and understanding have merged to give meaning to interactions between people
Ontological view
= worldview
Interviewing in health research
4
- exploring how biological, social, cultural, economic and historical factors intersect to influence how people experience illness and how these factors affect health outcomes
- understand the meaning or nature of experiences, feelings, thought processes and emotions associated with illness
- for public health and policy
- research examining organisations
