Exercises for Chapter 4 Interviewing

I am sharing exercises to accompany each chapter of Qualitative Research Methods for Everyone: An Essential Toolkit (Policy Press). https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/qualitative-research-methods-for-everyone

Here are the exercises for Chapter 4.

Discussion guides. Find at least three examples of topic or discussion guides and contrast and compare them in terms of content and style. Then design your own and try it out on someone prepared to role-play. Ask colleagues or friends to role-play challenging scenarios for you. Try different layouts, wording and try a visual guide, rather than or as well as a written one.

Start a new bank of topic guides to share in your institution, to inspire you regarding layout, design, type of question or probe, introduction and ending statements and so on.

Different approaches to interviewing. Spend some time answering the questions I have put at the end of the section on different types of interview:

“to what extent are the participant’s personal life, or events around that time, relevant in my research? Do I need to think about the way in which this participant’s story or account is constructed, to what ends? Have I thought about who has the power to tell whose story, or to listen, or to be heard? Would it work better to talk to people in groups? Perhaps some participants are happier to share a conversation if they are with others like them. Can I ask questions spontaneously, while people are doing things? Would it be useful to include some participant observation, so that I can get a feel for these participants’ life contexts? Can I get to know participants beyond the boundaries of the interview, to build some trust and rapport, to simply help them out a bit or to give something back?”

Practice an in-depth, narrative approach with little structure: Interview one person on a single topic for ten minutes, using a very open-ended question like ‘how do you feel about good food?’. Change places, for ten more minutes.

Discuss: How was the experience from both sides? What can we learn from this about interviewing techniques. Your discussion should cover: open and closed questions, body language, power in an interview, sensitive topics, body language, the importance of having a research goal, and recording equipment.

Comment below. Please share any tips or insights in the comments.

You might also enjoy the book’s accompanying Podcast series: Qualitative Research Methods for Everyone, wherever you get your podcasts.