Discussion 2: What Makes a Good Interview?
The intent of a qualitative interview is to encourage, elicit, and illuminate the interviewee’s experience in rich, thick detail. Consider that most interviewees will only have a general idea of your research goals and the depth you need for analysis. Therefore, your presentation of the interview questions and engagement with the interviewee are the tools that guide the process.
As you consider your interview, think about:
- Asking of questions to ask to encourage stories and examples
- How to “reframe” questions to reduce ambiguity and bias
- What you can do to make the interviewee at ease
- What you can do to build rapport and trust
For this Discussion, you will examine the characteristics of a good qualitative interview.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the chapters of the Rubin and Rubin course text and consider the characteristics of a good qualitative interview.
- Review the Yob and Brewer interview questions in Appendix A at the end of the article and consider how interview guides are used in research.
- Review the Interview Guide Instructions and the Interview Guide Example found in this week’s Learning Resources and use these documents to guide you during your interview.
ASSIGNMENT
Post your explanation of the characteristics of a good qualitative interview. Also include what makes a good interview guide. Use the interview questions from Yob and Brewer’s interview guide to support your post.
Be sure to support your main post and response post with reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA style.
Student 1
interviews are present in everyday life mainly at our schools, universities, place of employment, and carrying out a research topic. Interviews ranges from informal interview, formal interview, structured interview, semi-structured interview, face to face interview and so on. Also, in addition to the ranges of interviews, interviews can be of several types: experimental interview, quantitative interview and qualitative interview.
For the sake of discussion, I will be elaborating on the characteristics of qualitative interview. Some of the characteristics of qualitative interview are as follows: they are goal-driven, for example, a person who conducts a qualitative interview ought to have an objective to achieve (Ravitch, & Carl, (2016). Another characteristic of a qualitative interview is that it has a question and answer and where in the person undertaking the interview asks questions and expects the interviewees to answer the questions. The person ought to be knowledgeable and skillfully and must be a good listener. Another characteristic of qualitative interview is that it is well structured and organized.
A good interview guide serves as a guide or cheat-sheet for the interviewer to follow or abide to. The interview guide contains list of short questions and answers based on the topic of discussion and is follow by short prompts. For example, the Yob and Brwer article (n.d.) contains good interview guide questions. The questions are open ended questions mainly when, who, what, how, is, from and was questions. One of the interview questions was “was working for social change important to you before you came to this institution”? Another interview question was “from your perspective, what is “social change”? These are all straight forward questions that ought to guide the interviewer when asking questions.
1. What was it like during your time with the Houston Police Department?
2. How were conditions of service when you were with the Houston Police Department?
3. I will be interviewing my coworker who is a retired Houston Police Officer
References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Doctoral research: Interviewing techniques, part two [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Yob, I., & Brewer, P. (n.d.). Working toward the common good: An online university’s perspectives on social change, 1-25.
Student 2
The Methodology for Qualitative Interviewing
In this area for interviewing its important to plan, think, listen and select the format that will be presented for the interviewee. I have learned through all the quotes of Rubin & Rubin and the videos the importance of listening and analyzing all information for notation on paper onto the comfort portrayed to the interviewee ,with an equality behavior that will get the most information for the interviewer. Its called respect, being mindful to space and appreciative someone wants to share their knowledge for a research topic. I have listed some quotes and areas of importance for an interviewer.
“Qualitative Interviewing is an adventure in learning about teaching in different countries, their cultural views, their problems and solutions, and how their practices are similar and different than our own. The way we interview depends on what we want to know. It is a process of finding out what others feel and think about their worlds. The result is to understand the major points of their message and how it compares [similar & different] to your own situation. Not only do you need to be a good conversationalist, but also a good listener.”
[Rubin, Herbert & Rubin, Irene. (1995). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.]
Several types of interviews exist topical oral history, life history, evaluation interview, focus group interview, and cultural interviews.
Topical interviews
are concerned with the facts and sequence of an event. The interviewer is interested in a reconstruction of the experience and what happened; for instance, what happened at the In SEA Conference in Brisbane Australia. The researcher actively directs questions in pursuit of precise facts.
Life histories
deal with individual experiences or rites of passage. In oral histories, one collects information about a dying lifestyle or art skills. These result in narratives and stories that interpret the past.
Evaluation interview
s examine new programs or school developments and suggests improvements. Since evaluation deals with incorrect behaviors as well as positive ones, justifications [accounts] of behaviors result. The result may consist of myths and unresolved tensions (Patton, 1990).
In
focus group interviews
people meet to share their impressions and changes of thinking or behavior regarding a product or an institution. Participants may be strangers and make an effort to preserve their competency and may not admit faults.
Qualitative Interviewing is part of Ethnography,
a systematic study of ethnos (usually an ethnic group). Building ethnographic research is like a detective story. Need to use your sociological imagination to find out what made it possible (p.7).Alasuutari (1998) admires work of Sir Conan “Doyle or Sherlock Holmes; e.g., A Study in Scarlet (1887). If common sense is thin description, then ethnographic sense is �
thick description
� (Geertz, 1973).”
“Interviewers have different styles
.
Style
is an organized assembly of different manifestations, which can be described in different �languages� such as music, dress, and behavior (p.110). However,
style,
in the sense of this all-pervasive idea, is not reduced to an single element reflecting or defining it, nor to any external cause or factor. It reflects the whole culture. Difference in male & female styles?”
[Alasuutari, Pertti. (1998). An invitation to social research. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale].
The Purpose of Interviews by an Interviewer
The purpose for the aide of an interviewee is in the exploring opinions, behaviors and experiences by the interviewee on a diverse answer to questions being questioned. The phenomenon of interviews is the interviewer has the inventory of knowledge with the analyzation of the influence of interviewee experiences and opinions of research. Remember diversity of interviewing brings a cultural art of others to help answer the questioning to answer the learning questions to be answered in a diverse problem solving. As an interviewer I can say that to ease the pain of interviewing is practice before the interview is to take place and practice how to make the interview as talking to two great friends. Its friendly environment and respecting others who agreed to volunteer for the interview.
References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Doctoral research: Interviewing techniques, part two [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Yob, I., & Brewer, P. (n.d.). Working toward the common good: An online university’s perspectives on social change, 1-25.
Student 1
i
nterviews
are
present
in
everyday
life
mainly
at
our
schools,
universities,
place
of
employment,
and
carrying
out
a
research
topic.
Interviews
ranges
from
informal
interview,
formal
interview,
structured
interview,
semi
–
structured
interview,
face
to
face
i
nterview
and
so
on.
Also,
in
addition
to
the
ranges
of
interviews,
interviews
can
be
of
several
types:
experimental
interview,
quantitative
interview
and
qualitative
interview.
For
the
sake
of
discussion,
I
will
be
elaborating
on
the
characteristics
of
qua
litative
interview.
Some
of
the
characteristics
of
qualitative
interview
are
as
follows:
they
are
goal
–
driven,
for
example,
a
person
who
conducts
a
qualitative
interview
ought
to
have
an
objective
to
achieve
(Ravitch,
&
Carl,
(2016).
Another
characteristic
of
a
qualitative
interview
is
that
it
has
a
question
and
answer
and
where
in
the
person
undertaking
the
interview
asks
questions
and
expects
the
interviewees
to
answer
the
questions.
The
person
ought
to
be
knowledgeable
and
skillfully
and
must
be
a
good
l
istener.
Another
characteristic
of
qualitative
interview
is
that
it
is
well
structured
and
organized.
A
good
interview
guide
serves
as
a
guide
or
cheat
–
sheet
for
the
interviewer
to
follow
or
abide
to.
The
interview
guide
contains
list
of
short
questions
a
nd
answers
based
on
the
topic
of
discussion
and
is
follow
by
short
prompts.
For
example,
the
Yob
and
Brwer
article
(n.d.)
contains
good
interview
guide
questions.
The
questions
are
open
ended
questions
mainly
when,
who,
what,
how,
is,
from
and
was
question
s.
One
of
the
interview
questions
was
“was
working
for
social
change
important
to
you
before
you
came
to
this
institution”?
Another
interview
question
was
“from
your
perspective,
what
is
“social
change”?
These
are
all
straight
forward
questions
that
ought
to
guide
the
interviewer
when
asking
questions.
1.
What
was
it
like
during
your
time
with
the
Houston
Police
Department?
2.
How
were
conditions
of
service
when
you
were
with
the
Houston
Police
Department?
3.
I
will
be
interviewing
my
coworker
who
is
a
re
tired
Houston
Police
Officer
References
Laureate
Education
(Producer).
(2016).
Doctoral
research:
Interviewing
techniques,
part
two
[Video
file].
Baltimore,
MD:
Author.
Ravitch,
S.
M.,
&
Carl,
N.
M.
(2016).
Qualitative
research:
Bridging
the
conceptual,
theoretical,
and
methodological.
Thousand
Oaks,
CA:
Sage
Publications.
Yob,
I.,
&
Brewer,
P.
(n.d.).
Working
toward
the
common
good:
An
online
university’s
perspectives
on
social
change,
1
–
25.
Student
2
The
Methodology
for
Qualitative
Interviewing
In
this
are
a
for
interviewing
its
important
to
plan,
think,
listen
and
select
the
format
that
will
be
presented
for
the
interviewee.
I
have
learned
through
all
the
quotes
of
Rubin
&
Rubin
and
the
videos
the
importance
of
listening
and
analyzing
all
information
for
notation
on
paper
onto
the
comfort
portrayed
to
the
interviewee
,with
an
equality
behavior
that
will
get
the
most
Student 1
interviews are present in everyday life mainly at our schools, universities, place of employment,
and carrying out a research topic. Interviews ranges from informal interview, formal interview,
structured interview, semi-structured interview, face to face interview and so on. Also, in
addition to the ranges of interviews, interviews can be of several types: experimental interview,
quantitative interview and qualitative interview.
For the sake of discussion, I will be elaborating on the characteristics of qualitative interview.
Some of the characteristics of qualitative interview are as follows: they are goal-driven, for
example, a person who conducts a qualitative interview ought to have an objective to achieve
(Ravitch, & Carl, (2016). Another characteristic of a qualitative interview is that it has a question
and answer and where in the person undertaking the interview asks questions and expects the
interviewees to answer the questions. The person ought to be knowledgeable and skillfully and
must be a good listener. Another characteristic of qualitative interview is that it is well structured
and organized.
A good interview guide serves as a guide or cheat-sheet for the interviewer to follow or abide to.
The interview guide contains list of short questions and answers based on the topic of discussion
and is follow by short prompts. For example, the Yob and Brwer article (n.d.) contains good
interview guide questions. The questions are open ended questions mainly when, who, what,
how, is, from and was questions. One of the interview questions was “was working for social
change important to you before you came to this institution”? Another interview question was
“from your perspective, what is “social change”? These are all straight forward questions that
ought to guide the interviewer when asking questions.
1. What was it like during your time with the Houston Police Department?
2. How were conditions of service when you were with the Houston Police Department?
3. I will be interviewing my coworker who is a retired Houston Police Officer
References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Doctoral research: Interviewing techniques, part two
[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical,
and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Yob, I., & Brewer, P. (n.d.). Working toward the common good: An online university’s
perspectives on social change, 1-25.
Student 2
The Methodology for Qualitative Interviewing
In this area for interviewing its important to plan, think, listen and select the format that will
be presented for the interviewee. I have learned through all the quotes of Rubin & Rubin and the
videos the importance of listening and analyzing all information for notation on paper onto the
comfort portrayed to the interviewee ,with an equality behavior that will get the most
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 1 of 2
Interview Guide Instructions
1. Prepare!
a. Choose a recording device to capture your voice and your
interviewee’s voice. Smartphones have a variety of apps for recording
and downloading calls. Several are free. Some charge an additional fee
for downloading the file. Some also have a transcribing service, but there
is an extra charge. You can also use a simple handheld recording device.
Conduct the interview using the speakerphone so both voices will be
distinctly heard.
b. Decide how you want to create the transcription. As indicated above,
you can use a transcription service; they will charge anywhere between $1
and $3 a minute. Alternatively, you can transcribe the interview yourself by
typing the text into MS Word. This is free, but time consuming—about 1–2
hours, as you need to record the contents of the interview verbatim. Be
sure to identify when the interviewee is speaking, and highlight the
questions you ask.
c. Create an Interview Guide Form. An example is provided in the course,
or you can create your own. If you use this one or another, be sure to
leave space for your notes.
d. Prepare a brief introduction. There is an example in the Interview Guide
Example.
e. Practice your interview with a friend to get comfortable with the questions
and the recording device.
f. Set up your appointment.
2. Conduct your interview.
a. Test to make sure your recording equipment is working.
b. Have your interview guide with you and a pen to take notes.
Immediately after:
i. Make detailed notes of your experience. Include how you were
feeling during the interview, and your unspoken reactions to the
interviewee’s comments.
ii. Check to make sure the recording worked
c. As soon as possible, transcribe the interview.
Questions:
1. Can you tell me what program are you in at Walden?
a. And what year did you start?
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 2 of 2
2. How was working for social change important to you before you came to Walden?
a. Can you give me an example of what you did?
3. How was the social change mission important to you in making your choice to
come to Walden?
a. Please describe how it was important/not important to you.
4. From your perspective, what is social change?
a. Can you give me some examples of what you mean by that?
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 1 of 3
Interview Guide Example
Date:
Time:
Interviewee Code #:
Location of Interview:
Parts of the Interview Interview Questions
Introduction Hi, this is _____. Thank you very much for helping
me practice my interview skills. As you know, the
purpose of this interview is to talk about what
social change means to you as a Walden student.
This should last about 10 minutes. After the
interview, I will be examining your answers to
practice data analysis, and some of your answers
will be shared with my Instructor and classmates.
However, I will not identify you in my documents,
and no one will be able to identify you with your
answers. You can choose to stop this interview at
any time. Also, I need to let you know that this
interview will be recorded for transcription
purposes.
Do you have any questions?
Are you ready to begin?
Question 1:
1. Can you tell me what program you are in at
Walden?
a. And what year did you start?
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 2 of 3
Parts of the Interview Interview Questions
Question 2: 2. Was working for social change important to you
before you came to Walden?
a. Can you give me an example of what
you did?
Question 3:
3. Was the social change mission important to you in
making your choice to come to Walden?
a. Please describe how it was important/not
important to you.
Question 4: 4. From your perspective, what is social change?
a. Can you give me some examples of what
you mean by that?
Close 1. Thank you for your answers. Do you have anything
else you’d like to share?
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 3 of 3
Parts of the Interview Interview Questions
2. Do you have any questions for me?
3. Thank you for your time. Goodbye.