1. Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya February 22, 2008 Educational Research Forum
Tell me about X
Designing an In-depth interview study
Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya
February 22, 2008
Educational Research Forum

2. What is an Interview Study?
Conduct a large scale survey
Have open-ended questions in survey
Survey with open-ended questions?
Choose sample participants for one or two interviews
Survey followed up with 1 or 2 open-ended interviews?
All questions are open-ended
responses to open ended questions
Open-ended surveys or questions asked via ?

3. What is an Interview Study?
Conduct a large scale survey
Have open-ended questions in survey
Survey with open-ended questions?
Choose sample participants for one or two interviews
Survey followed up with 1 or 2 open-ended interviews?
All questions are open-ended
responses to open ended questions
Open-ended surveys or questions asked via ?

4. What is an Interview Study?
Conduct a large scale survey
Have open-ended questions in survey
Survey with open-ended questions?
Choose sample participants for one or two interviews
Survey followed up with 1 or 2 open-ended interviews?
All questions are open-ended
responses to open ended questions
Open-ended surveys or questions asked via ?

5. What is an Interview Study?
Conduct a large scale survey
Have open-ended questions in survey
Survey with open-ended questions?
Choose sample participants for one or two interviews
Survey followed up with 1 or 2 open-ended interviews?
All questions are open-ended
responses to open ended questions
Open-ended surveys or questions asked via ?

6. Anatomy of an Interview Study
Prolonged engagement
Verification rigor
In-depth
understanding
Theory-driven
Methodological
Substantive

7. Minimum Number of Interviews
Subject Matter
Probe
2-3
Transcripts
2-3
Accuracy
Topical
Meaning
Gap-filling ?
Hunches
Inconsistencies
Interpretation
2-3

8. Types of Interviews Open-ended Feminist In-depth Phenomenological

9. Interview Questions Phenomenology Feminist In-depth Open-ended
Tell me about a time when you learned about X
Peel away layers to find “essence”
Phenomenology
Conversational
Power-sharing
Feminist
Pre-designed open-ended questions
Probes from responses
In-depth
Open-ended

10. Designing Interviews Stories that you want to hear
Rich, thick, details
Avoid analytical and hypothetical ?s

11. Descriptive Questions
Tell me about a time when you experienced X.
Tell me about a time when you first learned about X.
Can you tell me about a time when X stands out in your mind?

12. Tour Questions Grand Tour
Can you describe a typical day in your life as X?
Try: Question you might ask Cinderella if you were trying to understand her everyday experiences as a female step-child
Grand Tour

13. Tour Questions Specific Grand Tour
Can you describe what happened in class yesterday from the moment you arrived till you left?
Try: Question you would ask Cinderella about her experience of preparing for and going to the ball
Specific Grand Tour

14. Tour Questions Task-related Grand Tour
Could you draw me a map of Seattle jail and tell me what its like?
Try: Question you would ask Snow White about her sleeping arrangements with the seven dwarfs.
Task-related Grand Tour

15. Tour Questions Mini Tour
Can you describe what you do when you take a break from your training sessions?
Try: Question you would ask Cinderella about her breaks from her chores to find out about her future goals.
Mini Tour

16. Example Questions Events, experience, phenomenon
Can you give me an example of when you felt supported by your colleagues?
Try: Question you would ask Barbie about how she negotiates the pressure of being an idealized doll and Ken’s girlfriend?
Events, experience, phenomenon

17. Structural Questions Social structure, work structure
What might be some of the typical phrases that I can expect to hear if I raised the issue of supporting female professionals in this organization?
Try: Question you would ask Minnie Mouse about her role as the female mouse in Disneyland?
Social structure, work structure

18. Contrast Questions Falsification, alternate examples
You mentioned about some of the difficulties you experienced during your training at this workplace. Can you think of some things during your training that worked well for you? Try: Question you would ask Cinderella about her relationship with her step-mother.
Falsification, alternate examples

19. Common Mistakes Interview Questions Long sentences
Closed-ended questions
Vague instead of details
Leading questions
Failure to probe
Interview Questions

20. Common Mistakes Verbal and Non-verbal Communication Use of jargon
Cuts off participant
Repeats question already asked
Distracting non-verbals
Afraid of silence
Verbal and Non-verbal Communication

21. Common Mistakes Interview Flow Judging participant’s response
Rapport
Rushing through
Judging participant’s response
Inserts self extensively
Change subject by cutting off
Interview Flow

22. Upcoming Qualitative Events
Poster displays and website launch – April 8
QRAC – Qualitative Research Advanced Congress
Qualitative Performances (TBA)
International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry – University of Illinois, Urbana, Champaign (May 14-17, 2008)
Bake sale (?) (TBA)

23. Qualitative Classes in Summer
EDPR 8004 – Reporting Qualitative Research
First Session
EDPR 7/8561 – Introduction to Qualitative Methods
July

24. Comments? Questions?
Thank you