Qualitative Social Research Methods Using Interviews in Research. Leah Wild.

Overview Field Research and InterviewingField Research and Interviewing Ethical Considerations.Ethical Considerations. Risk in the fieldRisk in the field Reflexive approaches to researchReflexive approaches to research Lying the groundwork for interviews.Lying the groundwork for interviews. What Kind of Interviews?What Kind of Interviews? Practical Matters.Practical Matters. Preparing for interviewsPreparing for interviews Conducting the interviewConducting the interview After the interview.After the interview. The use of focus groups, group interviews, Participant Observation and documentary resources.The use of focus groups, group interviews, Participant Observation and documentary resources.

Why conduct field research? Understand meaningsUnderstand meanings Describe and understand experienceDescribe and understand experience Describe and understand ideas, beliefs, values.Describe and understand ideas, beliefs, values. Identify themes and patternsIdentify themes and patterns Policy implications?Policy implications? Informing best practiceInforming best practice Action research.Action research.

Distinguishing between method and methodology Methodology - or how we can go about the task of producing reliable and valid knowledge.Methodology - or how we can go about the task of producing reliable and valid knowledge. Methods - or how we actually physically collect data to test our theories.This involves the basic nuts-and-bolts of data collection (questionnaires, interviews, experiments, participant observation and so forth).Methods - or how we actually physically collect data to test our theories.This involves the basic nuts-and-bolts of data collection (questionnaires, interviews, experiments, participant observation and so forth). The flow of causation in social research is methodology procedural rules = methods knowledgeThe flow of causation in social research is methodology procedural rules = methods knowledge

Methodological traditions PositivismPositivism Valid knowledge can only be produced on the basis of direct observation Looking for causes, effects and laws Objectivity and value freedom InterpretivismInterpretivism social world produced on a daily basis by people going about their lives people actively create their world Relativism RealismRealism social structures have some form of independent existence Social structures real only in their effects - not permanent and unchanging all knowledge about the world is ideological.

What is Ethnography? The study of people in naturally occurring settings or fields by methods of data collection which capture their social meanings and ordinary activities, involving the researcher participating directly in the setting, if not also the activities, in order to collect data in a systematic manner but without meaning being imposed on them externally (Brewer 2003)The study of people in naturally occurring settings or fields by methods of data collection which capture their social meanings and ordinary activities, involving the researcher participating directly in the setting, if not also the activities, in order to collect data in a systematic manner but without meaning being imposed on them externally (Brewer 2003)

The ethnographic self. How has your own presence impacted on your choice of methodology and research methods?How has your own presence impacted on your choice of methodology and research methods? How has your own presence impacted the collection of data and the interpretation of data? How has your own presence impacted the collection of data and the interpretation of data? why have you chosen this research topic? why have you chosen this research topic? Why have you chosen to collect the data in this way?Why have you chosen to collect the data in this way? Why have you interpreted the data in the way you have?Why have you interpreted the data in the way you have? Have you privileged a certain set of meanings over another? Have you privileged a certain set of meanings over another? Are there any emotional dynamics that have been brought into play in the process of your research?Are there any emotional dynamics that have been brought into play in the process of your research? Understand and value the subjective nature of ethnographic interpretation.Understand and value the subjective nature of ethnographic interpretation. Being reflexiveBeing reflexive

The use of Interviews. Reflexive analysisReflexive analysis Know When to Leave the FieldKnow When to Leave the Field Identify Major Interpretive ThemesIdentify Major Interpretive Themes Be honest about subjective nature of dataBe honest about subjective nature of data Be Honest About ObservationsBe Honest About Observations Observation vs. InterpretationObservation vs. Interpretation Base Interpretations on Multiple ObservationsBase Interpretations on Multiple Observations

Participant observation Subjective sociologySubjective sociology overtovert covert?covert? Balancing roles of researcher and participantBalancing roles of researcher and participant

Ethical considerations The safety of researcher and respondent.The safety of researcher and respondent. Anonymity and confidentialityAnonymity and confidentiality Informed consentInformed consent Participant observation and ethics.Participant observation and ethics. The uses of your research.The uses of your research. Researching sensitive topics.Researching sensitive topics. Vulnerability and powerVulnerability and power The constraints of ethical considerations.The constraints of ethical considerations.

Risk in the Field Considering your own safety.Considering your own safety. The safety of respondents.The safety of respondents. Clothing and appearance.Clothing and appearance. Interviewing alone.Interviewing alone. How to deal with aggression or hostility during the interview.How to deal with aggression or hostility during the interview. What to do when things go wrong.What to do when things go wrong.

Reflexive Approaches to Research Considering other peoples values/ cultural practices.Considering other peoples values/ cultural practices. How do my own values/ history/ cultural practices impact on my interpretations?How do my own values/ history/ cultural practices impact on my interpretations? Giving meaning to social interaction.Giving meaning to social interaction. Critically evaluating your own motivations.Critically evaluating your own motivations. Asking the why, how and what questions.Asking the why, how and what questions. Challenging your own ideas and assumptions.Challenging your own ideas and assumptions. Research as a learning experienceResearch as a learning experience Objectivity, neutrality and bias.Objectivity, neutrality and bias.

Laying the Groundwork for Interviews and Methods Chapter Why am I using interviews?Why am I using interviews? What can interview data contribute to existing knowledge?What can interview data contribute to existing knowledge? What has already been done?What has already been done? What resources can I utilise?What resources can I utilise? Using fieldwork diaries.Using fieldwork diaries. Involving your respondents.Involving your respondents. Pilot interviews.Pilot interviews.

What Kind of Interviews? Structured interviews.Structured interviews. Semi structured interviews.Semi structured interviews. Unstructured interviews.Unstructured interviews. The use of vignettes.The use of vignettes. Group interviews.Group interviews. Thinking about the interview setting.Thinking about the interview setting.

Preparing for Interviews Creating a topic guideCreating a topic guide –Use objectives and literature review to help design it A memory aidA memory aid –Objective of study –General and specific areas of research ButBut –Cannot interview from topic guide alone –Need to be flexible in terms of order and content

Practical Matters. Equipment checklist. Tape recorder, tapes, spare batteries.Equipment checklist. Tape recorder, tapes, spare batteries. Writing material.Writing material. Names and addresses.Names and addresses. Consent forms.Consent forms. Asking permissions.Asking permissions.

Conducting the interview Starting the interviewStarting the interview –Physical conditions, clothing! –Seating arrangements –Initial introduction, confidentiality –Tape recording The topic guideThe topic guide Closing the interviewClosing the interview –End on a positive note –Thank and affirm confidentiality –Remind how information will be used

Conducting the Interview 2. The silent probeThe silent probe The go on, Im listening probeThe go on, Im listening probe Journalists probes: When? Who? Where?Journalists probes: When? Who? Where? The immediate elaboration probeThe immediate elaboration probe –Can you tell me more about that? The retrospective probeThe retrospective probe –Can I take you back to something you said earlier?

After the Interview Check materialCheck material TranscriptionTranscription Write up ASAP.Write up ASAP. Things to include in writing upThings to include in writing up -body language/ atmosphere/ tone and context. Recording personal experiences.Recording personal experiences. Have I forgotten anything?Have I forgotten anything? Letters of thanks.Letters of thanks.

Using Other Methods. Participant observation.Participant observation. Focus groups.Focus groups. Video interviews.Video interviews. Using documentary resources.Using documentary resources.

Final Words. What if you dont get the information you wanted?What if you dont get the information you wanted? The changing direction of research.The changing direction of research. The best laid plans…!The best laid plans…! Rescuing your research when things go wrong.Rescuing your research when things go wrong.