1. In-depth Interviewing RD300 17 Sept. 2001

2. DEFINITION In-depth interviewing – a conversation between researcher and informant focusing on the informant’s perception of self, life and experience, and expressed in her or his own words.

3. Interview Models Structured interviews Focused or semi- structured interviews Unstructured interviews Survey interviews In-depth interviews; Group interviews; Surveys In-depth interviews; Group interviews; Oral histories

4. Structured Interviews Standardized questions. Detailed interview schedule (e.g.Questionnaire). Each respondent asked exactly the same questions in the same order. Predominately close-ended questions (e.g. Yes/No; scales).

5. Close-ended Questions Respondent must choose among several preset answers. Questions are inflexible. Easier to code. Less costly than open-ended questions. Limited amount of information gathered.

6. Open-ended Questions Respondent can give any answer. Harder to compare data across respondents. More time consuming to code. Cost factor. Lets respondents speak to issues important to them. Data is richer.

7. Semi-structured or Focused Interviews Interviewer uses an interview guide developed around the issues central to the research question. Interview guide - a list of topics without fixed wording or fixed ordering of questions. Allows in-depth examination of issues.

8. Unstructured Interviews No formal interview schedules or question order. A minimally controlled conversation geared toward the researcher’s topics of research interest.

9. In-depth Interviewing A conversational process. Unstructured or semi-structured format. Typically conducted face-to-face. Often involves repeated interviews with the same respondent. Relies on verbal accounts of social realities. Typically individual interviews but can be groups.

10. In-depth Interviewing Predominantly used for theory building as opposed to hypothesis testing. Often used in exploratory studies. Results may be used to design a questionnaire.

11. Conducting the Interviews Who will you interview? How many respondents/informants will be interviewed? How many interviews will you conduct? How long should you allow for the interviews? Where do you conduct the interviews?

12. Conducting the Interviews How much information do you give the informant? Confidentiality is an issue. Establish a rapport. Prepare in advance. Do you homework. Prepare an interview guide. Use transitions during interview to keep on track.

13. Conducting the Interviews Be a good listener and observer. Funneling – broad questions progressing to more specific issues. Story-telling – Asking questions so as to elicit a story from the respondent. Written narratives.

14. Types of Questions Descriptive – broad, good starter questions. Structural questions – explore how respondents organize their knowledge. Contrasting – respondent must make a comparison. Opinion/value – “What is your opinion of….?”

15. Types of Questions Feeling questions – Emotional responses. “How do you feel about that?” Sensory – Questions about sensory perceptions (seen, heard, touched, etc.). Background demographic questions.

16. Probing Questions used to elicit more information after an initial question. Follow-up questions. Devil’s advocate questions. Hypothetical questions. Posing the ideal.

17. Forms of Probing Non-verbal nudging. Verbal nudging. Reflective probe or paraphrase.

18. Recording the Interview Tape-recording. Note taking. Each has advantages and disadvantages. May be used in combination.

19. Listening Skills Empathic listening. Non-judgmental or tolerant appearance. Good advance preparation helps. Listening skills improve with practice.