Qualitative Epistemology & Interviewing

1. Qualitative Epistemology & Interviewing

2. Interviewing is about data collection

3. Josselson • Human life is composed of stories. Narratives construct memory, organize time, and create identity (Ricoeur, 1981; MacIntyre, 2007); stories integrate facts and feelings (Fulford, 1999). Narratives are the only means by which people can communicate what goes on inside them and what links them to others. Personal narratives are “the most internally consistent interpretation of presently understood past, experience past and anticipated future.” (Cohler, 1982, p.207).” • Josselson, R. (2013). Interviewing for qualitative inquiry. NewYork: The Guilford Press.

4. Josselson cont’d • A narrative interview is open-ended and extended. Its is focused initially on a topic of interest to the researcher, but interviewees are encouraged to place their own meanings into the dialogue. The nuances of experience, the subtleties of subjectivity, and the shadings of though and emotions are the focus of attention. P.xi

5. Nelson et al “Narrative research studies the whole person in context and examines whole lives. Stories convey information in a present time sense and include a felt sense, giving new perspectives and clarity to understanding experiences. The patterns of these experiences become apparent. Storytelling taps unconscious emotional material and memories that contain salient content about an event(Nelson et al, 2008, pg. 128).” Nelson, A., McClintock, C., Nash Shawver, M., Perez-Ferguson, A. & Thompson, G. (2008). Storytelling narratives: social bonding as key for youth at risk. Child and Youth Care Form, 37, 127-137

6. Lieblich et al • “People are storytellers by nature.” • “Stories provide coherence to one’s experience and have a central role in our communication with others.” • “One of the clearest channels for learning about the inner world is through verbal accounts and stories.” • (Lieblich, Tuval-Mashiach, & Zilber, 1998, pg. 7)

7. Pointers • Purposes: • Screening • Demographics • Eliciting the Story, Opening the Unconscious & Memory Bank • Warm Up • Present Tense • Questions, prompts

8. Pointers pg 2 • Avoid theoretical, academic language (do not use research question) • “Think of a time….” • “Tell me about a time….” • Encourage perceptual details of memories. • Qualities of effective qualitative interviews • Rich description, Voice • Authenticity, Resonance • Interviewer stance • Bracket, practice, clarify role • Expect emotions, journal • Make it long enough • Ask if there is anything they want to add 

9. Research Question The research question for this study is: What do heterosexual-identified individuals who are or have been affiliated with evangelical Christianity describe as their journeys from anti-gay to pro-gay? Interview Protocol and Guide THE JOURNEY OF HETEROSEXUAL-IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND FROM ANTI-GAY TO PRO-GAY Note that this is a semi-structured interview guide. Specific probes and follow-up questions will depend on the previous responses of the informant. Not all follow-up questions will be used in every interview. 1. Introduction: Thank for your willingness to participate in this interview and in my study. I am a doctoral student at Fielding Graduate University, an openly gay man, and a former evangelical Christian. The purpose of this study is to explore the journey of heterosexual-identified evangelical Christians from anti-gay to pro-gay.

10. 3. Can you think of another time where you began to see that lesbian and gay people deserve equal rights, just like everyone else? For example, the right to marry the person they love or to adopt children? A. Can you describe what was happening at the time? B. What do you think influenced you the most? C. In what ways did that shift your thinking? D. How did you feel at the time? 4. What other key events, situations, or milestones affected your journey from anti-gay to pro-gay? A. Please describe what happened. B. Who was involved? C. How did your beliefs about homosexuality and your attitudes toward lesbian and gay people change? D. In ways did you start treating lesbian and gay people differently? E. What else changed for you?

11. 5. How do you feel about homosexuality now? What do you think about lesbian and gay people today? A. What about gay men? B. Lesbians? C. Bisexuals? D. Transgender people? 6. Do you think the fact that you are [race] affected your views on homosexuality and lesbian and gay people? If so, in what ways? A. Do you think the fact you are a [man/woman] affected your views on homosexuality and lesbian and gay people? If so, in what ways? B. Do you think that your experiences in school or your education affected your views on homosexuality and lesbian and gay people? If so, in what ways?

12. 7. How has your approach to the Bible changed, if any, in regards to homosexuality? 222 A. On a scale of 1 -10, with 1 being low, and 10 being high, how would you rate the Bible’s influence on your opinions about homosexuality back when you considered homosexuality a sin? B. What did you believe the Bible said about homosexuality back then? C. Now rate the Bible’s influence today on your current beliefs about homosexuality. D. What do you believe the Bible says now? E. In what ways has your approach to interpreting the Bible shifted, if any? How would you describe your approach?

13. 8. Can you describe how your church impacted your feelings about lesbian and gay people? How did the church influence your beliefs and attitudes about homosexuality? A. What church or spiritual community where you affiliated with when you believed homosexuality was wrong? Were you an active member? How often did you attend services? B. Can you describe how your church impacted your feelings about lesbian and gay people and your beliefs and attitudes about homosexuality? C. Are you still a member of that church? In what ways, if any, has your involvement changed? D. Are you a member of a different religious or spiritual community today? If so, how active are you in that community? E. What does your current religious community or church teach about homosexuality? How has your current church/religious community influenced your current beliefs and attitudes about homosexuality and lesbian and gay people?

14. 9. How has this journey from anti-gay to pro-gay shifted how you think about yourself? A. How would you describe your religious or spiritual identity? Christian, non- Christian, or in another way? B. In what ways have you supported lesbian and gay people? Are you a member of any lesbian and gay advocacy groups? If yes, which ones? C. Can you recall a time when you stood up for lesbian and gay rights? What happened? Who was involved? What did you do? How did you feel at that time? How did you feel afterwards? D. In what other ways do you think you have changed?

15. Josselson, R. (2013). Interviewing for qualitative inquiry: A relational approach. New York: The Guilford Press. Chap 9 “Dos & Don’ts” • Do ask about the interviewee’s experience, rather than for generalized sociological opinions. • Don’t expect consistency. • Do inquire about linkages. • Do track carefully & ask about what you don’t understand. • Do pay attention to imagery. • Don’t ask hypothetical questions.

16. Dos & Don’t Cont’d • Don’t make judgments. • Don’t take notes during interview. • Do invite the participants to ask questions or express concerns before you begin. Be transparent • Don’t know. Be unenlightened. • Don’t cut people off or indicate that they are digressing. • Do welcome being corrected. • Do be alert to negations, and investigate these. • Do recognize that a lot of what is important cannot be put into words.

17. Dos & Don’t Cont’d • Don’t offer commentary on the participant’s life-even if invited to. • Do anticipate feeling unsettled at the end of the interview. • Do ask participants about their experience of their interview. • Do express your gratitude and say goodbye. • Do practice • Do report the context and nature of the interview when you write about your findings.

18. Biblography • Josselson, R. (2013) Interviewing for qualitative inquiry: A relational approach. New York: Guilford. • Lieblich, A., Tuval-Mashiach, R., and Zilber, T. (1998). Narrative research: Reading, analysis and interpretation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.  • Marshall, C. and Rossman, G. B. (1995). Designing qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.  • Nelson, A., McClintock,C., Perez-Ferguson, A., Shawver, M. & Thompson, G. (2008). Storytelling narratives: social bonding as key for youth at risk.Child Youth Care Forum 31: 127-137.