Interviewer Qualifications Knowledgeable Structuring Clear Gentle Steering Critical Remembering Interpreting

Ways to Get Qual Data Interviews Purpose: – –Cover factual & meaning level IVer works directly with respondent for respondents & for researchers! Training essential! –For any contingency

Types of Interviews Informal, conversational General IV guide Standardized, open-ended Closed, fixed-response

Focus Groups Purpose: Dialogue – Participants: 1. OR 2. Low-cost & efficient

Focus Groups (preparing) questions 3. Plan session 4. Manage invites

Focus Groups (immediately after) 1.Verify data 2. Make notes –Observations during session

Purpose – Usually Requires –Training - –Preparation - –Discipline - Develop “Hidden” types –Observer as Outsider - –Mystery-Client - Ways to Get Qual Data Observation

Observation Non-hidden Observers: –Role: Record “objectively” –Responsibility: Acknowledge (a & (b) ) –Observing-participants sympathetic/antagonistic interpretations? –Participant-observers participate fully –Neutral observers still “affect” observed

Observation Tools Note-taking goals: –ensure validity –supporting details –weigh evidence

Hymes’ (1972) SPEAKING model –Setting (setting; include. time of day, spatial consid’s) –Participants (ppl in detail; age, clothing, sex, etc.) –Ends (apparent goals of ppl; why in the setting or acting partic. way) –Act Sequence (behav./speech - both what & how said) –Key (tone; formality, congeniality, etc.) –Instrumentalities (dialect, channels used) –Norms of Interaction (seem to be understood rules of interaction) –Genres (cultural category; such as formal speech, ritual, etc.)

Take-Home: Observation Conduct an observation – on anything legal Include detail: –Field notes –Environment –Type of observ. –Key/general observs.