RESEARCH INTERVIEWSBackgroundTypes of Interviews (see table in Patton, 1990)Selecting IntervieweesContacting Interviewees and providing contextContent of Interviews; What to askRecording the DataData AnalysisRandom TipsNRE 701 Master’s Project Planning SeminarRESEARCH INTERVIEWSBackground Purpose: to find out those things we cannot directly observe Begins with assumption that the perspective of others is meaningful, knowable and able to be made explicit Quality of information gained is dependent on the interviewer.Types of Interviews (see table in Patton, 1990)1. Informal conversational interview: Relies on spontaneous generation of questions and answers2. General interview guide approach: Outlines a set of issues/questions. Presumes there is a common set of information that should be gleaned from each person interviewed.3. Standardized open-ended interview: Minimizes variation in questions posed. Standardizes across diverse interviewers. Selecting Interviewees1. Key informants: people who are familiar with the policy or program you are studying. They know the key figures, sites and/or events that are interesting to you. They direct you toward other information sources, help you interpret results, etc. Use of snowball technique.2. Regular intervieweesContacting Interviewees and providing contextGenerally, contact prospective interviewees by phone or email ahead of time and ask if they will consent to an interview. Often advantageous to follow up with a letter confirming the interview, time/place or phone number where you’ll reach them for a telephone interview. This is an opportunity to briefly explain your objectives and possibly to give them a written copy of the interview guide, if one is used. A good opportunity to explain issues of confidentiality and ask about using a tape recorder. Early in the interview, or even before it, the interviewer has the responsibility to communicate clearly what is desired, why it’s important, how interview is going as it progresses and how the information will be used. The interviewee also needs to know how long the interview will take, and again be apprised of confidentiality issues and permission for taping. Content of Interviews; What to ask Experience/behavior questions Opinion/Values questions Feeling questions Knowledge questions Sensory questions Background/demographic questionsDo a pre-test of your interview. Be sure to be very clear about the context of the interview. Give the respondent enough (but not overwhelming amount) of information about your project. Do that ahead in a letter, if possible.Recording the Data Raw data is the actual words spoken by interviewee Some method of recording verbatim responses is essential Tape recorder – must use if interviewing along; an asset even if two interviewers (one to take notes and one to keep the conversation going). Ideally you have taped conversationAND written notes. Transcribing is enormously expensive. (4:1 ratio in time)Data Analysis Data interpretation and analysis makes sense out of what people have said, looks for patters and integrates it. Develop a set of categories that will help you interpret interview data. The categories may change as your interpretation evolves. Check out qualitative research software that helps organize and analyze interview data. Random Tips Identify the very important questions that must be asked in case time is short Ask questions of more than one source to increase reliability Given that objectives of an interview can change as you progress, analyze and resize questions as needed Ask simple, open ended questions and probe responses. Stay away from asking questions that can be answered by simple yes or no. Help the respondent to be specific. Try to avoid ‘big’ questions that will be of little value for your data. Make it interesting. Most people like to talk about their business, region, agency, etc, so give them the opportunity to open up, while guiding them to keep on your agenda. Be a good listener, enthusiastic about the responses you’re getting. Keep it short and simple. Take only as much of the respondents’ time as you absolutely need. Cover the key points quickly and encourage the respondent to keep talking if they want. Start with the least important interview. Your skills will improve with experience. Save the most important interviews for when you have polished your approach. Keep track. Take good notes or record the interview if the respondent agrees. Summarize your notes soon after the interview. Half of the value of an interview is lost if notes or content of notes are not reviewed within the week. Sequence questions: Begin with non-controversial topics. Knowledge or skills questions can be threatening. Don’t begin with long boring list of background questions. Probes and follow-up questions deepen the response and increase data richness. But ‘Why’ questions can be tricky – can imply that a response is somehow inadequate. Be careful in the wording of these. Probes can ask for clarification of a vague point, for more specific details on something that is particularly important, or to ask for examples. Focus group is a type of interview. You are interviewing multiple people at the same time,and benefiting from the inter-group discussion that ensues with each question. Do not strive for either consensus or disagreement in focus group. With a group, and multiple iterative responses to each question, there is a low limit on the number of questions possible. Interviews are interventions. The affect people. Therefore, IRB process is essential. Face to face vs telephone interviews: face to face advantageous in that you can read body language, use maps and other visual aids, establish rapport with interviewees and collect documentary information while you are at their office. Phone interviews advantageous in less cost, more time efficient, can take notes on computer or record interviews without awkward reminder of microphone. Never record an interview without permission! Sources used: M.Q. Patton (1990). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. Sage
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