Role of Interview Data in Qualitative Research - Coursework Example

Running header: Interview Data Student’s name: Instructor’s name: Subject code: Date of submission Critically evaluate the role of interview data in qualitative research and discuss the key characteristics of the process of data collection and analysis when using interviews as main data source Introduction There are a number of methods of data collection that are used in qualitative research including observation, visual or textual analysis as well as interviews. Interviews are considered one of the most important methods of data collection in qualitative analysis as they help collect more quality data in relation to the other methods. Using qualitative interviewing techniques, researchers are able to observe and record subject’s unique experiences or perspectives as relates to the issue being investigated. Qualitative interviews involve questions that are open ended with a discussion that is in nature conversational hence allowing the respondent to give their personal and firsthand account or experience. Thus, the interviewer insight into the respondent’s experience and hence a complete feedback is obtained unlike other similar methods of data collection. Thus, this paper critically evaluates the role of interview data in qualitative research. The paper also discusses the key characteristics of the data collection process and analysis specifically using interviews as the main qualitative data source. The role of interview data in qualitative research As stated above, qualitative interview data is of better quality than data collected using other means owing to its characteristics. Thus, interview data in qualitative research plays a great role in ensuring that quality research that meets the researcher’s expectations is conducted. Interview data for a qualitative research is more detailed than other forms of data. This is because interviews enable the interviewer to gather complex and in-depth data. This type of detailed data cannot be obtained through other forms such as questionnaires. Qualitative interviews enables the subjects to discuss related issues with the interviewer following up with secondary line of questioning thus enabling one to obtain better quality data. Thus, a major role played by interview data in qualitative research is providing in-depth and detailed information to the researcher by being more interrogative. Interview data also lays a vital role in qualitative research by allowing the interviewer to gather emotional data in addition to hard factual data collected using other means (Burnard, 2009). For instance, when an interviewer asks the subject to describe how he/she felt in a certain situation, the interviewer is able to get more complete feedback as the respondent explains the process. For example, a researcher conducting research on a mental toll home visit with a social worker being the respondent, he may ask the social worker questions such as how a typical home visit is conducted or unfolds. The social worker on the other hand would provide basic answers that would describe the step by step approach or assessment of the environment. On the other hand, if the researcher wants to get greater detail about the emotions that characterize the visit, the scene and the setting, he may want to ask the social worker about the description of the most distressing home visit she has ever made from its beginning to its end. This way, interview data for qualitative research plays a great role by enabling the researcher to get a perspective assessment of the situation by not only obtaining hard facts about the issue but also helping obtain the emotional data in addition. This shows that interview data gives the researcher a comprehensive overview of the issue being researched on thus giving a quality outcome of the research. Unlike most of other forms of data used in qualitative research, interview data can be described as first person data. This is because the qualitative interviews give the researcher the advantage of using a non-conventional line of questioning and hence the researcher is able to glean first person assessment of the issue or situation being researched. For example, suppose the researcher is interviewing children on the trends of cyber bullying, using the conventional interviewing questions, he may need to ask them whether they have ever been cyber bullied and whether they knew someone that has been cyber bullied. This is not the case with qualitative interview data. Qualitative interview would pose questions that would extract data to do with what they know about cyber bullying and how they would describe or view cyber bullying. Asking such, questions, the researcher is able to get more expansive responses from respondents that are first hand. Thus, interview data in qualitative research plays the vital role of ensuring that the research uses first person data or information in obtaining research conclusions thus giving better research results. It is also worth noting that interview data for qualitative research acts to aid the researcher in the collection of honest feedback. It should be noted that despite the fact that most of the interview respondents will not go for an interview with the sole intention to mislead the researcher, it is obvious that the respondent to the interview questions on the basis of what he or she thinks the researcher expects to hear from him or her. However in a qualitative interview, it will be difficult for the respondent to know and understand what the researcher intends to gain from the respondent (Sharan, 2007). As such, the respondent will most likely talk honestly and freely in responding to the research question. As such, another role that interview data plays in qualitative research is that of enabling the researcher get an honest input hence leading to quality research outcomes. Thus arising from the above analysis, it can be concluded that interview data in qualitative research plays a great role in ensuring that the researcher achieves his or her intention of getting quality research results. This is seen in the fact that interview data in qualitative research results in honest feedback from the respondents and it is collected from personal data. In addition, it is worth noting that such data is detailed and in depth while it gives a better perspective assessment of the issue being researched as opposed to other forms of data. As a result, interview data is considered one of the best methods of data collection when conducting a qualitative research. The key characteristics of the process of data collection when using interviews as main data source As stated above, interview data for qualitative research is considered an important source of data compared to other forms of data collection. As such, the process involved in such data collection must have certain characteristics that will make such data have the right quality and hence acceptable both to the researcher and to the beneficiaries of the research. For instance, the interviewer ought to have the appropriate knowledge and training in interviewing techniques. In a bid to ensure that the interviewer gets rich and detailed data, the interviewer has to ensure that the respondent is made comfortable and interested in the interview. Effective interviewing techniques should also be used including avoidance of yes or no and leading questions. The collection process calls for use of appropriate body language while personal opinions ought to be kept in check. Other characteristics of the data collection process specifically when using interviews as the main source of data for qualitative research are discussed below. One of the main characteristics of the interview data collection process is the planning stage. The data collection has to be appropriately planned if it is to result in quality data for the research. Planning involves identification of the stakeholders that are to be involved in the research. The stage should also identify the information that is needed and from whom it is to be obtained from. The interviewer should have lists of the stakeholders to be interviewed and the method of selecting those to be interviewed should be taken into account. The planning stage should also ensure that the research follows national and international ethical research standards. In other words, the data collection process should be characterized by proper planning to ensure that all the ingredients are present before the data collection process is rolled out to ensure that quality data is obtained from the process. The data collection process ought to be characterized by rules that should guide it if it is to result in quality outcomes. For instance, where interview is the main data source, an interview protocol ought to be developed. These are the rules that are supposed to guide the interviews administration and implementation. There ought to be rules to be followed in each interview so that consistency between interviews can be achieved so that the reliability of the findings can be assured. The rules guiding the interview include such issues as what is to be said to the interviewees when the interview is being set up. What is to be said to interviewees when the interviewing process begins and securing informed consent and confidentiality of the interviewee should characterize the process. Other rules that characterize the process include how to end the interview process and what should be done during the interview. Another characteristic is the interview guide that details the questions or issues that the interview seeks to explore together with a consent form. It is worth noting that the interview ought to have no more than 15 main questions that should guide the process. Where language is a barrier, the process is also characterized by translate guides into local dialects. Qualitative interviews are characterized of open ended questions where factual questions should be asked before opinion questions to ensure that as much information that as detailed as possible is extracted. The data collection process using interviews as the main data source also involves training of data collectors and especially those that speak the local language. Such training should be characterized by a number of processes including introduction to the evaluation objectives, reviewing of data collection techniques and thoroughly reviewing of data collection instruments and items. The data collectors should practice using the instruments while skill building exercises on interviewing and interpersonal communication as well as discussion of ethical issues should characterize the process. The data collection stage involves setting up interviews with stakeholders with the purpose of the interview and the reason for selecting the stakeholders and the interviews expected duration being explained. The researcher should seek informed consent from the interviewee and re-explain the purpose of the interview and how the information will be kept confidential while ensuring that the information is appropriately recorded through notes, video or recorder. The interview is only conducted after the consent sought has been granted. Immediately following the interview, the data is immediately summarized. After this, the information given in the interview is verified as necessary to ensure that only relevant data is used for the purpose of the research. Another characteristic is the data analysis stage. The data obtained is analyzed to convert it into the right form that can be used for the purpose of the research. Analyzing the data include transcribing or reviewing data. Analyzing the data involve such processes as reading through the interview responses and looking for patterns or themes among the respondents. When a variety of themes are identified, they are grouped in a meaningful way such as by the participant type and then trends are established. During analysis, the responses which seem to have been given enthusiastically are identified in a bid to ensure only the necessary responses are used for the purpose of the research. After the analysis, the results are disseminated to the beneficiaries of the research (Michael, 2010). This is done in the form of a report. The interviewer should seek feedback from interviewees and program stakeholders. The findings are then revised and the final results disseminated to the interviewees, funders, program stakeholders as well as the community and other stakeholders as may be deemed appropriate. As has been discussed above, the data collection process should involve adequate planning and preparation while including all the characteristics described if it is to result in quality results and hence serve its purpose. Otherwise, the data collection process may not serve the purpose for which it was conducted. The key characteristics of the process of data analysis when using interviews as main data source Once the data is collected, it has to be analyzed in a bid to make it useful to the researcher. Data analysis is characterized of two approaches including the deductive and inductive approach. The deductive approach uses a predetermined framework or structure in analyzing data. In this case, the interviewer will impose their own structure and theories on the data and uses these in analyzing the interview transcripts. Researchers use the approach in those studies where they are already aware of probable answers from the interviewees. The approach though simple and quick is blamed for being inflexible and having potential bias since it has already been pre-decided hence limiting theme as well as theory development. On the other hand, the inductive approach analyzes data with no or little redetermination of structure or framework hence using actual data itself in deriving the structure of data analysis. Though complex and time consuming, it is preferred where nothing is known of the study phenomenon and is the most preferred approach for analyzing qualitative interview data. In conducting the data analysis, the researcher has a great roe to play. He is the one that drives the analysis and has to decide that his explicit or implicit theories are as well as his/her favored methods of analysis. Such decisions that the researcher has to make before conducting the analysis are usual based on his epistemological respective, his approach to the problem as well as the particular research questions being analyzed (Sharlene, 2015). How the researcher analyses the qualitative interview data is dependent on a number of factors. First, it depends on the articular research questions driving the study. It also depends on how the research questions are linked to the analysis methods he chooses as well as the type of analysis rationale that he chooses to apply. Qualitative interview data analysis is characterized by data transcription. Transaction of the interview data plays a great role in the success of the research. First, it builds theoretical sensitivity according to Strauss and Corbin (2000). Transcription also brings the researcher closer to the data collected while also providing a special opportunity for critiquing and improving on the qualitative interview process. What is transcribed depends on the data collection method used during the interview. Thus, what is to be transcribed may include the written texts for notes taken during the interview, any supporting documents that respondents may have offered during the interview, any audio and visual data including recordings of interviews as well as photos and videos that might have been taken during the interview.it is worth noting that the main aim of data analysis is that of analytical reducing the data. This is achieved through production of summaries, coding, memos and abstracts. In data reduction, one has to find ways of displaying data such as though use of matrices, frequency counts among other criteria. Data reduction will also entail drawing conclusions and testing their validity. Thus, data reduction is considered an iterative as well as an ongoing process. As stated above, data analysis is characterized by data reduction. This has the goal of reducing large data amount collected during the interview into manageable levels. The analysis also serves to search for commonalities which lead to data categorization or coding. The researcher is also able to look for comparisons and contrasts by analyzing the data. Another characteristic of data analysis is that of physically reducing the data as well as conceptual reduction of data which is achieved through thinking through meaning via coding memoing and recoding to gain meaning. Data analysis may also make use of computerized software (Cassell and Symon, 2004). These include transcription softwares using hyper transcribe and hyperesearch. Use of computer aided analysis softwares such as the ones listed above is considered better than manual analysis although it also depends on the cost allocated to the research and the nature of research. Some of the advantages of using data analysis software include the fact that they enhance ability to play with data while assisting in development of organizing system. They also help in theory building and construction while assisting in the exploration of different possibilities of analysis of data as well as data interpretation. On the other hand, use of transcription technologies is hailed owing to its benefits. Some of the benefits include the fact that it decreases time and money or the cost of transcription. The technologies are easy to use even by inexperienced team members; in addition, such technologies have been hailed for allowing researchers to do their own transcription. Irrespective of the data analysis method used, the researcher should be careful to ensure that his/her method results in quality results that would make the interview serve its intended purpose by resulting in quality research results. Conclusion This paper has critically examined the role played by interview data in a qualitative research. In addition, the paper has examined the characteristics of the data collection process and analysis with specific reference to interviews as the main source of data for qualitative research. It has been established that qualitative interview data plays a great role by providing detailed information that is first hand and that is least likely to be biased. On the other hand, the process of data collection and analysis has been discussed in details right from the planning stage to the time that the data is disseminated to the research beneficiaries. It has been established that the quality of data and hence the research is greatly determined by the way these processes take place. Great care should thus be taken at each stage to ensure that quality data that serves the purpose of the research is obtained. References: Burnard, P2009, Analyzing and presenting qualitative data, British Dental Journal, vol. 204, p. 429-432. Sharan, M2007, Qualitative Research: A guide to design and implementation, London, Rutledge. Michael, P2010, Qualitative research and evaluation methods, London, Sage Publications. Sharlene, H2015, Analyzing qualitative data: with or without software, New York, Taylor & Francis. Cassell, C&, Symon, G2004, Essential guide to qualitative methods in organizational research, London, Sage. Read More