L4 Qualitative Research Interviewing

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Questions and Answers

What is a distinguishing feature of semi-structured interviewing?

It is completely unplanned.

It solely relies on written questionnaires.

It avoids any flexibility in questioning.

It includes a predetermined list of topics. (correct)

What is a key disadvantage of conducting interviews via telephone?

Increased duration of interviews.

Higher costs compared to in-person interviews.

Enhanced rapport with interviewees.

Inability to observe the respondent's body language. (correct)

Which type of question asks participants to elaborate on their previous answer?

Specifying questions

Indirect questions

Direct questions

Follow-up questions (correct)

Which step is essential in conducting effective interviews?

Build a strong rapport with the interviewee. Signup and view all the answers

Which order of questions is recommended in an interview?

Begin with relevant, general questions before specific ones. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of interviewer training?

To reduce interviewer-related error Signup and view all the answers

What best describes an advantage of computer-assisted interviewing?

It can utilize filter questions effectively. Signup and view all the answers

What type of question seeks to understand the interviewee's perspective on their role in an event?

Interpreting questions Signup and view all the answers

What should be included in your interview schedule?

The time and place of the interview. Signup and view all the answers

How should interviewers handle silence during an interview?

Remain patient and allow the interviewee time to think Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes an indirect question?

What do you think about the event? Signup and view all the answers

Why is priority given to early, relevant questions in interviews?

To maintain the interviewee's attention and engage them early. Signup and view all the answers

Which is NOT a feature of unstructured interviewing?

Strict adherence to a list of questions. Signup and view all the answers

Which method allows for ongoing analysis of interview data over time?

Ongoing transcription Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a feature of a successful interviewer, according to Bryman?

Confrontational Signup and view all the answers

Which type of question specifically inquires about the effects of a situation on the interviewee?

Specifying questions Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of semi-structured interviews?

They allow for flexibility in questions and responses. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a context in which interviews can be conducted?

Written questionnaires Signup and view all the answers

Which step is important in conducting effective interviews?

Deciding who you want to see prior to arranging interviews. Signup and view all the answers

When constructing an interview question list for elite interviewing, what is a key consideration?

Balance of knowledge favors the expert, requiring tailored questions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the purpose of conducting qualitative interviews?

To generate detailed and subjective understandings of phenomena. Signup and view all the answers

What does an unstructured interview typically involve?

An open conversation without a set format. Signup and view all the answers

In which type of interview do researchers typically gather rich narratives over a longer period?

Life history interview Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the advantages of conducting interviews in qualitative research?

They can provide rich and detailed qualitative data. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Interviewing in Qualitative Research

Qualitative research uses interviews to gather verbal data.
Interviews can be various types, including elite, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews.
Face-to-face interviews are one-on-one, in-person interactions.
Telephone interviews involve contacting respondents by phone.
Online interviews use video conferencing software like Zoom or Teams.
Group interviews involve a researcher interviewing multiple participants together.
Interviews are preferred when efficient data collection is needed, getting more or better data cost effectively compared to alternatives.

Uses of Interviews

Interviews serve as a direct encounter between a researcher and respondent to gather data.
Interviews offer flexible and adaptive conversational approaches letting the interviewee shape the conversation.
Detailed qualitative data about events, processes, institutions, or points of view can be collected.
Historical background information, subjective meanings, and understandings can be recorded when needed.

Types of Qualitative Interviews

Semi-structured interviews follow a pre-determined list of topics, but allow flexibility in the order and wording of questions.
Unstructured interviews allow for free-flowing conversations, starting wherever the interviewee prefers.
Intensive interviews aim to gain a deep understanding of the subject.
Qualitative interviews: a broad category encompassing various types.
In-depth interviews are focused on detailed insights.
Focused interviews concentrate on specific aspects of a topic.
Focus groups involve discussions within a set group.
Group interviews gather collective perspectives from a group.
Oral history interviews record personal stories and accounts.
Life history interviews explore the entire life course of a person.
Elite interviews involve experts as respondents.

Key Aspects of Interviews

Identifying target participants, getting access, conducting the interviews.
Transcribing interviews (using manual or technology).
Analyzing the outcomes/results.

Elite Interviewing

Elite interviews involve interviewing experts in a field.
Expertise and importance of the respondent vary.
The balance of knowledge from the respondent shapes interview approach.
Creating a well-structured interview plan is key.

Unstructured Interviewing

Unstructured interviews use free-flowing conversations.
These interviews begin wherever the respondent prefers the dialogue to start.
These interviews facilitate exploratory conversations.
They offer high flexibility in the conversational flow.

Semi-Structured Interviewing

Create a list of needed topics for discussion in the interview.
Prioritize topics.
Interviewers should avoid rigid adherence to the interview guide.
Probing is encouraged, especially if multiple interviewers are involved in the research.

Multiple interviewers or interviewees can result in various outcomes, such as reducing interviewer bias and greater data efficiency.
Telephone interviews are more efficient and easier to oversee but may lessen qualitative data due to lack of non-verbal cues and possible biases from the researcher.
Meeting software can also be used for interviews, offering similar attributes to in-person interviews in terms of cost and supervision but with potential loss in rapport building.
Computer-assisted interviewing using software, with its filter questions, offers additional helpful data collection tools.

Conducting Interviews

Understanding the scheduling and logistics of the interviews.
Building rapport and trust with the interviewee.
Providing clear and concise interview instructions to the interviewee.
Preparing the interview guide for consistency by understanding the research questions and developing questions from the interviewee's perspective.

Question Order

Beginning questions should relate to the core research topic.
Asking pertinent questions as early as possible, will keep the interviewee engaged.
Sensitive or embarrassing questions should be asked later in the interview to maintain interviewee cooperation.
Grouping similar interview questions together provides a more organized interview flow.
General questions should precede specific questions.

Types of Questions (Kvale, 1996; Bryman, 2021)

Introduction questions to establish common ground.
Follow-up questions delve deeper into answers given.
Probing questions encourage further clarification and detail.
Specifying questions seek to narrow down the interviewee's response.
Direct questions ask straightforward prompts.
Indirect, indirect questions ask respondents about the perspectives of others to determine their perceptions.
Structuring questions delineate the progression of the interview's focus or subject matter.
Silence allows for pauses and reflection in responses if needed.
Interpreting questions help the interviewee understand the question, often related to their role in the current event being discussed.

Probing

Used when interviewees need help answering or understanding interview questions.
Standardised information may be offered to aid understanding.
Interviewers can ask clarifying questions to assist the interviewee.

Prompting

Provides additional prompts for the interviewee if they need help responding to the interview question.
This can take the form of simple requests for clarification, or more complex follow-up questions.

Interviewer Training

Training interview personnel aids in reducing bias and ensuring accurate data gathering.
Training focuses on avoiding interviewer bias, providing standardised interview information, and precise questions to properly gather data.
Interview guides and proper questioning techniques are necessary to achieve a common interview structure and standard data collection.

Bryman (2021: 432) on Interviewers

Skilled interviewers are knowledgeable, structured, clear, gentle, sensitive, open, steering, critical, remembering, and able to interpret the data.

Recording and Transcription

Recording interviews allows for review and analysis by others.
Interviews can be re-used and reassessed.
Statistical tools are sometimes used to analyze recordings of the interviews.
Manual or automated transcription can be used.

How to Analyze Data

A detailed methodology for analyzing data is needed.

Advantages of Interviews

Useful when observation isn't possible.
Participants offer historical information.
Researchers have control over questioning.

Disadvantages of Interviews

Interviews provide filtered views of the information, possibly skewed.
Interview situations can be unnatural, possibly influencing responses/answers.
People articulate perceptions differently.
Interviewers may potentially bias interviewees' responses.
References are provided on how they were obtained.

Discussion Questions

Differences between structured and semi-structured interviews.
Needed skills for qualitative interviewers.
Types of research questions answered by qualitative interviews.

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Description

Explore the various types of interviews used in qualitative research, including elite, semi-structured, and unstructured formats. This quiz covers the advantages of interviews, their ability to gather detailed data, and the different mediums such as face-to-face, telephone, and online interviews. Test your understanding of how interviews fit into the qualitative data collection process.