1. Case studies: interviews
Dr Dimitra Hartas

2. What is a case study?
Defined as ‘a method for studying social phenomena through the thorough analysis of an individual case. The case may be a person, a group, an episode, a community or any other unit of social life’ (Theodorson ad Theodorson, 1969).

3. Characteristics of case studies
Bounded systems – it has boundaries
A case of something
Preserve the unity and wholeness of a case
Multiple methods of data (eg, observation, interviews) and multiple data sources (eg, interviews of parents, children) are used in a naturalistic setting

4. Designing a case study
What are the characteristics / framework of case studies?
Have you explicated your role as a researcher?
What is the sampling strategy?
Have you given a rationale for the use of case study?
Have multiple strategies for data collection been employed?
Are the data analyses steps identified?
Has coding been used with the data?
Are the themes cross-examined?
Have you integrated the themes to develop a theory?

5. Interview as a qualitative research method
Interview as a form of professional conversation.
Interviews are particularly useful for getting the story behind a participant’s experiences. The interviewer can pursue in-depth information around the topic. Interviews may be useful as follow-up to certain respondents to questionnaires, e.g., to further investigate their responses. (McNamara,1999)

6. Aspects of Interviews.
Interviews are a far more personal form of research than are questionnaires.
In the personal interview, the interviewer works directly with the respondent.
Unlike with mail surveys, the interviewer has the opportunity to probe or ask follow up questions.
Interviews are generally easier for respondent, especially if what is sought is opinions or impressions.
Interviews are time consuming and they are resource intensive.
The interviewer has to be well trained in how to respond to any contingency.

7. Types of interviews In depth-interviews (face to face)
Focus group interviews
Ethnographic interviews
Life history interviews
Key informants interview

8. Formats of Interviews Informal interviews
General interview guide approach
Semi-structured, open-ended interview
Closed, fixed-response interview

9. Informal interviews
No predetermined questions are asked, in order to remain as open and adaptable as possible to the interviewee’s nature and priorities; during the interview the interviewer “goes with the flow”.

10. 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 adaptability in getting the information from the interviewee.

11. Semi-structured interviews
-the same open-ended questions are asked to all interviewees; this approach facilitates faster interviews that can be more easily analyzed and compared.

12. Closed, fixed-response interview
Where all interviewees are asked the same questions and asked to choose answers from among the same set of alternatives. This format is useful for those not practised in interviewing.

13. Setting up interviews Who will be interviewed and why?
How many will be interviewed, and how many times each person?
When and for how long?
Where will they be interviewed?
How will access to participants and setting will be organised (gatekeeping issues)

14. The context of the interview
Choose a setting with the least distraction.
Explain the purpose of the interview.
Address issues of confidentiality.
Explain the format of the interview.
Indicate how long the interview usually takes.
Provide contact information of the interviewer.
Allow interviewee to clarify any doubts about the interview.
Prepare a method for recording data, e.g., take notes, tape recorder.

15. The content of interview
Develop an interview schedule, in that it:
Organises the interview and gives it purpose and coherence
Shows the boundaries of the interview
Keeps the researcher focused
Provides a framework for analysis and writing up

16. Conducting the interview
Clear -simple, easy and short questions which are spoken distinctly and understandably.
Gentle -being tolerant, sensitive and patient
Establish empathy and rapport
Steering -to control the course of the interview to avoid digressions from the topic.
Critical -to test the reliability and validity of what the interviewee tells.
Re-stating and Interpreting -provide interpretation of what is said by the interviewee.

17. During an interview, observe / record:
Behaviour -what a person has done or is doing.
Opinions/values -what a person thinks about the topic.
Feelings -what a person feels rather than what a person thinks.
Knowledge -to get facts about the topic.
Background/demographics -standard background questions, such as age, education, etc.

18. Advantages of interviews
Allow for an in-depth understanding of participants’ views on an issue
Offer the opportunity to understand the context
Control over the line of questioning, eg, probing into important areas
Obtain the language and words of participant

19. Limitations Offers indirect information – participants’ views
Researcher’s presence may bias responses
The quality of data can be compromised when participants are not articulate

20. Coding data
Identify the main themes and summarise them as codes. There are different types of codes:
- Setting and context codes
-Views held by participants
-Relationship and social structures codes
- Prescribed coding schemes

21. Validity Strategies
Triangulate: via the use of different data sources, coherence of themes
Check emerging themes with participants
Use rich, thick description to convey the findings
Clarify researcher’s position / bias
Present contrary information to the main themes
Review emerging themes with a friend

22. Your role as a researcher
Position yourself and explicate your views, the lens through which you view research
Bring personal values into the study
Place emphasis on the context of the study
Make interpretations of the data / triangulate
Collaborates with the participants
Creates an agenda for change and reform