Interviews continue to be a part of our daily life. We have experienced this when we are in school, at work (Edwards & Holland, 2013) and even in the simplest social setting such as our home when we are being asked questions by our family. We are all aware how an interview goes, when one person asks their respondents a number of questions about a certain topic they wish to gain information about. (Edwards & Holland, 2013).
Interviews can be defined into three ranges: structured, semi-structured and unstructured.
The structured range of interviews fall into the quantitative side of research due to the reason that structured interviews are a set of questions that do not offer much room for flexible answers. An example would be questionnaires and surveys where the questions are set and have an order. Structured interviews are mostly used for researchers who want to obtain data they can compare, so the answers from the respondents have to have some relevance to each other.
When it comes to semi-structured and structured interviews, the ones that fall under qualitative, these are the types that are often used when conducting an interview. According to Jennifer Mason, semi-structured and structured have similarities.
INTERACTIONAL EXCHANGE OF DIALOGUE
TOPIC CENTERED & NARRATIVE APPROACH
The researcher has topics they wish to cover and approaches the person they wish to interview in a narrative way. Making the data gathering flexible, as well as how the person will answer.
CO-PRODUCTION
Researchers have knowledge on the topic they will be talking and asking questions about. This is so they can be sure that they are getting the right kind of data they need for the study.
This is co-production, involving the construction and reconstruction of knowledge. (Mason).
An interview is a social event that still has set rules, like any other social interaction we have. The participants, researcher and interviewee may or may not be aware of existing rules.
Interviewees or respondents may discover these rules on their own by controlling the way or how much answers they give, while the researchers can develop the ways on how they obtain these answers by being able to adapt to the interviewee and situation.
THE CHANGING SUBJECT OF RESEARCH:
The photo above shows how those being researched are not neutral but stand depending on how the interview is. It is suggested that the arrangement above are the ones being interviewed and have a movement from being a passive into active. (Edwards & Holland, 2013).
Being passive, an interviewer presents the study to the subject with no bias and ask the same questions to all that participate in the interview. This happens when the data needs to come from differing ways from different people. Subjects would fall under quantitative research, having structured questions.
The next would respondent and informant. These types are usually used for "ethnographic methods." (Edwards & Hollands, 2013). Key variables or people will be sought out to provide the data needed. For example in a tribe, a certain prominent person will be chosen as a respondent for this. Only one or two persons would be needed to collect data.
Participant would be next, by the word itself, the researcher would be participating in the activities needed to gather information.
The interviewee and interviewer, where the two stand on more equal ground. Participation from both sides can empower the interviewer and interviewee because the one being researched will realise he part he or she play a part in the study being conducted.
(Edwards & Holland, 2013)
SAMPLING IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING:
Random probability sampling is the method used in quantitative research. This has become the "norm" for most researches so when it comes to qualitative research, this has become a problem.
Since the researched and interviewees used in a qualitative research depends on the study and what data is needed, talking about sampling does not fit well with qualitative. The focus is of data with qualitative is on the process, not the numbers. (Edwards & Holland, 2013).
When getting a sample to support the study, the researchers must make sure this sample will be able to provide the right information, hence showing qualitative researchers have knowledge about the topic when interviewing a person.
Qualitative research are theoretically driven. Theoretical sampling was introduced by Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in 1976. There has to be a reason for this sample and research. Again, qualitative is more on the process, not the numbers.
To put it in simpler terms, the selection of sample for qualitative research (this applies for interviews) will be based on the relation to the theory. In order to get sufficient and valid data for the study, the samples will be able to give ideas in relation the theory being used.
The sampling will then be theoretical and purposive, choosing for the needs of the study.
One method in choosing samples is called snowballing.
Snowballing is when the researchers approach a sample that will be relevant to the study and in this process, they will also be able to learn more and meet more samples who will be of use to the study as well.
It can be used to reach those who are usually difficult in contacting by making your way up through people.
Oftentimes, researchers choose samples that will be most convenient to them.
BUT, the issue here with In Depth Interviews is HOW MANY INTERVIEWS SHOULD BE HELD? This will be discussed in Chapter 6 as we go on with learning about this procedure. It is important to note that the sample size changes through time and may even have repeat interviews with individuals.
The number of interviewees do not equal to the number of interviews the researcher will conduct.
Just like choosing the samples for the research, the sample size is dependent on the theory and nature of the study.
THE BROAD SOCIAL CONTEXT OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS:
Interviews are broad and multifaceted. Until today, the interview process is still progressing and changing along with the times.
In conducting interviews, the researcher must have had a thorough research, an appropriate approach and consider one's ethics.
Considering the ethics in interviewing is a huge factor and stresses that no harm will come to the participants. The researchers must protect themselves and the participants from risk and exploitation.
Those who seek to conduct interviews for research should consider the social field or relations. The researcher should seek and look at a school, prison or any social setting due to the complexity of social interactions involved.
Qualitative research are theoretically driven. Theoretical sampling was introduced by Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in 1976. There has to be a reason for this sample and research. Again, qualitative is more on the process, not the numbers.
To put it in simpler terms, the selection of sample for qualitative research (this applies for interviews) will be based on the relation to the theory. In order to get sufficient and valid data for the study, the samples will be able to give ideas in relation the theory being used.
The sampling will then be theoretical and purposive, choosing for the needs of the study.
One method in choosing samples is called snowballing.
Snowballing is when the researchers approach a sample that will be relevant to the study and in this process, they will also be able to learn more and meet more samples who will be of use to the study as well.
It can be used to reach those who are usually difficult in contacting by making your way up through people.
Oftentimes, researchers choose samples that will be most convenient to them.
BUT, the issue here with In Depth Interviews is HOW MANY INTERVIEWS SHOULD BE HELD? This will be discussed in Chapter 6 as we go on with learning about this procedure. It is important to note that the sample size changes through time and may even have repeat interviews with individuals.
The number of interviewees do not equal to the number of interviews the researcher will conduct.
Just like choosing the samples for the research, the sample size is dependent on the theory and nature of the study.
THE BROAD SOCIAL CONTEXT OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS:
Interviews are broad and multifaceted. Until today, the interview process is still progressing and changing along with the times.
In conducting interviews, the researcher must have had a thorough research, an appropriate approach and consider one's ethics.
Considering the ethics in interviewing is a huge factor and stresses that no harm will come to the participants. The researchers must protect themselves and the participants from risk and exploitation.
Those who seek to conduct interviews for research should consider the social field or relations. The researcher should seek and look at a school, prison or any social setting due to the complexity of social interactions involved.
Source: Edwards, Rosalind & Holland, Janet. What is qualitative interviewing? New York: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2013, Print.
