Episode 3: The Art and Science of Interviewing in Research
In this episode we explore interviewing as a critical data collection method in research. We're talking about everything from different interviewing approaches to tips and tricks, and ethical considerations you need to keep in mind.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Well, hello, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of our Social 730 Lecture Series podcast, your go to guide for all things related to doctoral research.
I hope you've had a fantastic weekend and have the opportunity to spend some quality time with your loved ones. My weekend was filled with gardening, family, and then of course reading dissertations—because some things never stop!
Today we're delving into Unit 3, which centers on interviewing as a critical data collection method and research. We're talking about everything from different interviewing approaches to tips and tricks and ethical considerations you need to keep in mind. Hopefully some of this discussion can also inspire and guide you as you work on your second course assignment.
So let's start with the O'Leary video. O’Leary did an excellent job illustrating the spectrum of data collection methods. Surveys on one end, interviews in the middle, and focus groups on the other ends. It all boils down to being curious and open, remember? The vibe you bring to the interview affects how your participants will interact with you.
Speaking of vibes, let me share a personal anecdote. I remember a phone interview I conducted where the participant was quite defensive. Well, I had to ditch my pre-planned interview guide and follow his lead. And you know what? It turned out to be one of the most insightful interviews I've had. Flexibility is key folks.
Tanggaard’s 2008 paper delves into the subtleties of verbal and nonverbal cues and interviews. Being attentive to these cues can sometimes require you to pivot. The question is, how do you pivot without compromising your data? Sometimes you need to follow the conversation where it leads you.
Now Tanggaard questions the importance of rapport and interviews, stating it might result in bland or biased responses. Of course, Tanggaard provides us with an important caution on interview as well that interviews in themselves shape the form and content of what is said and inevitably impose particular ways of understanding reality on the participants response. Both parties in the interview are necessarily and unavoidably active. This is a crucial statement, and one that requires much thought as you approach interviewing, especially if you are approaching your interview as an impartial observer.
On the contrary, authors like McGrath argue in favor of rapport. Personally, I side more with McGrath. Building rapport allows for a deeper, more meaningful conversations.
More on this later in this episode.
The Lo Iacono article raises important questions around the complexities of research ethics in the digital age. For this unit, in this episode, what we really want to focus on is the use of these digital tools for data collection. So digital tools like zoom have certainly democratized research methods. These tools are also an excellent way to maximize your research effort on a budget. You don't have to find a special venue to hold an interview. And video footage of both the interviewer and the participant can be recorded very easily when using this kind of software. This is an important consideration for some methodologies like phenomenology that may use body language as data points in an interview. And you can also easily generate an audio transcript from a recorded zoom session.
But let's not forget ethical considerations. Using digital tools can be convenient for sure. They come with their own set of issues, especially privacy. So make sure your participants are well aware and prepared to protect their privacy during the interview.
Zoom, for example, had some serious privacy and encryption issues raised in 2020, so much so that New York City public schools moved to actually ban zoom meetings and other school systems in the US did the same thing. Personally, I use telephone interviews a lot for my research. But now that people are more familiar with video conferencing tools, I've pivoted to using these tools more often instead of telephone interviews. Unfortunately, I find that the addition of video can be hugely distracting and can make you feel a little more self-conscious. It's also a much larger file to store. And can be more difficult to transcribe if you're not familiar with how to use auto transcription settings in zoom. So consider carefully whether using video is going to enhance your research or not. You may want to explore the possibility of using video conferencing for your interview assignment #2 and see how it works out for you.
OK, before we wrap up, here are some quick practical tips:
1. The setting of your interview can vary, be it a coffee shop, a park bench, a board room, a living room, it doesn't matter.
2. Tailor your interview structure to suit your needs: Is it a structured interview, like a survey; semi structured using an interview guide or maybe it's open-ended just to support exploratory conversation.
3. OK tip #3. Always keep the recorder running a bit longer. Sometimes the “gold nuggets” from the interviews come in the postscript.
OK. And that's a wrap for today. I hope you find these insights useful for your second assignment at our next virtual discussion circle, we'll have an opportunity to share and reflect on your experiences.
Remember, I'm just an e-mail or phone call away. If you have any questions or need further guidance.
Thanks for tuning in to the social 730 Lecture Series podcast. Until next time, keep researching, keep learning and keep connected. Alright, see you later.
