Research Methods 07 MCQs

Study Notes

Qualitative Interviews in Research

Qualitative interviews offer insights into individuals' perspectives, experiences, and interpretations of their world.
Interviews are valuable because they provide a rich source of evidence, sparking new research avenues and uncovering reasons behind respondents' answers.

Selecting Participants

Non-probability sampling is often preferred for qualitative interviews, prioritizing quality of information over quantity.
The selection process should be carefully documented and justified.
Participants should possess informed opinions and relevant experiences, including those who directly witnessed or lived through the event being researched.
Interviews with individuals who may not be considered 'experts' can offer valuable insights.

Types of Interviews

Structured interviews: Use pre-determined questions, facilitating analysis and quantification.
Semi-structured interviews: Offer a degree of flexibility while maintaining a structured approach, using the same questions but phrasing them differently.
Unstructured interviews: Allow for more natural, open-ended conversations, making comparisons between respondents challenging.

Interview Modes

Face-to-face interviews: Offer direct interaction, fostering rapport and observing non-verbal cues.
Video calls: Provide convenience and accessibility, but can present challenges related to technical issues and rapport building.
Telephone interviews: Offer privacy and anonymity for respondents but limit non-verbal communication.
Email interviews: Offer flexibility and time for respondents to consider their answers but can hinder rapport development and immediate clarification.

Focus Groups

Focus groups provide a platform for group discussions, allowing for diverse perspectives and the emergence of consensus or contrasting opinions.
Considerations include managing group dynamics like snowballing effects, binary opinions, alpha/quiet participants, and the potential for participants to feel hesitant about expressing opinions.

Rapport Building

One-to-one interviews: Building rapport is critical for successful data collection.
Focus groups: The group setting can influence rapport, encouraging consensus or spark discussions, but also impose constraints.

Ethical Considerations

Obtain informed consent from participants.
Ensure participant safety and address potential emotional responses.
Address potential cultural differences and sensitivities.
Consider the impact of anonymity and identity concealment.

Analysis

Both recorded and unrecorded interviews have advantages and limitations.
Data reduction involves selecting relevant sections of the interview data.
Coding involves categorizing data into themes and concepts.
Consider factors like body language, pauses, memory recall, and potential contextual constraints during analysis.

Additional Factors

It is important to recognize the subjectivity of both coding and analysis processes.
Non-verbal cues, such as body language and pauses, can provide additional insights alongside the verbal content.
Contextual constraints, such as political pressures, can influence participant responses.

Description

Explore the essential aspects of qualitative interviews in research. This quiz covers participant selection, types of interviews, and the significance of non-probability sampling. Learn how interviews can provide rich insights into individual experiences and perspectives.