Interviews as a method of Qualitative research mehtods

1. QUALITATIVE RESEACH INTERVIEWS
ATUHAIRWE RICHARD

2. Objectives
 Explain the meaning of interview method
 To explain methods used in interview data method
 Examine the key elements of the interview
 Examine how data is analysed in interview data method
 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of interview data methods

3. Interview as a method of qualitative
research
 Interviews are particularly useful for getting the story behind a participant’s experience. The
interview can pursue in-depth information around the topic. Interviews may be useful as a
follow up to certain respondents when questionnaires have been used to further investigate
their responses.(McNamara,1999).
 interview help to explore the views, experiences, beliefs and/or motivations of individuals on
specific matters .Qualitative methods, such as interviews, are believed to provide a 'deeper'
understanding of social phenomena than would be obtained from purely quantitative
methods, such as questionnaires.
 Interviews are, therefore, most appropriate where little is already known about the study
phenomenon or where detailed insights are required from individual participants. They are also
particularly appropriate for exploring sensitive topics, where participants may not want to talk
about such issues in a group environment.(Gill 2008)

4. Key elements of the method
 Epistemologies-empiricism this is based on facts of experience and
observation.
 Qualitative research interview method is the nature of the relationship
between interviewer and interviewee
 They are a more personal form of research than questionnaires
 The interviewer has an opportunity to probe and ask questions.
 The interviewer is part of the instruments.

5. Approaches to the method
 Informal,conversatonal interview – no predetermined questions are asked ,in order to remain as
open and adaption as possible to the interviewee’s nature and priorities, during the interview the
interviewer-goes with the flow.
 General interview guide approach-the guide approach is intended to ensure that the same general
areas of information are collected from each interviewee, this provides more focus than the
conversational approach ,but still allows a degree of freedom and adoptability in getting the
information from the interviewee.
 Standardized ,open-ended interview, the same open-ended questions are asked to all interviewees,
this approach facilities faster interviews that can be more easily analysed and compared.
 Closed, fixed –response interview, where all interviewees are asked the same question and asked to
choose answers from among the same set of alter natives. This format is useful for those not practiced
in interviewing.
 Telephone interview, this enable the researcher to gather information rapidly and like personal
interview they allow for some personal contact between the interview and respondent.

6. How it is administered
(steinar kvale 1996)
 Thermalizing-clarifying the purpose of the
interview and the concepts to be explored.
 Designing- laying out the process through
which you accomplish your purpose.
 Interviewing-doing the actual work audio
,recorded interview.
 Transcribing-creating a written text of the
interviews.
 Analysing –determining the meaning of
gathered material-metaphor, relating and
comparing notes
 Verifying –checking the reliability and validity
of the material
 Reporting-telling other wha
(Symon 2004)
 Defining the research question;
 Creating the interview guide;
 Recruiting participants;
 Carrying out the interviews.

7. Ways of analysing data using
qualitative interview method
 Thematic analysis-is the way of seeing ,as well as process for coding
qualitative information.(themes and categoriees)
 Ground theory -The aim is to discover what kinds of concepts and
hypotheses are relevant to the area one wishes to understand. Grounded
theory, therefore, provides new insights into the understanding of social
processes emerging from the context in which they occur, without forcing
and adjusting the data to previous theoretical frameworks
 Discourse analysis-It is a method that examines how individuals use
language to produce explanations of themselves, their relationships and
the world in general.

8. advantage
 Issues can be examined in detail and in depth.
 The data based on human experience that is obtained is powerful and sometimes more
compelling than quantitative data.
 Subtleties and complexities about the research subjects and/or topic are discovered that are
often missed by more positivistic enquiries. specific questions and can be guided/redirected
by the researcher in real time.
 The research framework and direction can be quick-efficient

9. Disadvantages
 Research quality is heavily dependent on the individual skills of the researcher and more easily
influenced by the researcher's personal biases and idiosyncrasies.
 The volume of data makes analysis and interpretation time consuming.
 It is sometimes not as well understood and accepted as quantitative research within the scientific
community
 The researcher's presence during data gathering, which is often unavoidable in qualitative research,
can affect the subjects' responses.
 Issues of anonymity and confidentiality can present problems when presenting findings
 Findings can be more difficult and time consuming to characterize in a visual way
 Data usually are collected from a few cases or individuals so findings cannot be generalized to a
larger population. Findings can however be transferable to another setting.
 Interviews are not restricted to the revised as new information emerges.

10. Reference
 cassell and symon 2004 Essential guide to qualitative methods in
organisational reseach.
 www.public.asu.edu