More on Interviewing….

1. More on Interviewing….

2. Researcher as research instrument • Qualitative interviews require considerable skill on the part of the interviewer. • The interviewer needs to notice how directive he or she is being • Whether leading questions are being asked whether cues are picked up or ignored • Whether interviewees are given enough time to explain what they mean

3. Whyte’s Directiveness Scale • 1. Making encouraging noises • 2. Reflecting on remarks made by the informant • 3. Probing on the last remark by the informant • 4. Probing an idea preceding the last remark by the informant • 5. Probing an idea expressed earlier in the interview • 6. Introducing a new topic (1=least directive, 6=most directive)

4. Maintaining control of the interview • Know what it is you want to find out • Ask the right questions to get the information you need • Give appropriate verbal and non-verbal feedback • Good feedback vs. bad feedback • Avoiding bias

5. Bracketing Your Biases • First, make a list of your characteristics: • 1. your gender; • 2. your age; • 3. your ethnic or national identification; • 4. your religion or philosophy of life; • 5. your political party or orientation; • 6. your favourite psychological theory. • Add four more characteristics: words or phrases that are descriptive of you as an individual.

6. Bracketing (cont.) • 1. List ways in which your characteristics might bias you in your efforts at research interviewing. • 2. Then write how you might counteract these biases. • 3. And then write how these efforts to counteract your biases might themselves lead to other biases!