"Qualitative Research: Interviews – Focus groups Dr Nataliya Shiraz 2016/17 1Main methods used for collectingqualitative data •Interviews • Focus groups •Diary studies •Observations •Document analysis/Archival research Dr Nataliya Shiraz 2016/17Why conduct interviews?To find out about a person’s point of view and personalaccounts, attitudes and feelings, interpretations,experiences (or representations of their experiences),and interactions in their social worlds INTERVIEW • Assumes that knowledge about social reality isconstructed and can be explored through humaninteraction (which philosophical approach?). • A social interaction to establish rapport and decreasepower imbalance. Dr Nataliya Shiraz 2016/17Interviews unstructured vs. semi-structured interviews sole method in an investigationor may be used as part of anethnographic study, or indeedin tandem with anotherqualitative methodcritical incident technique Dr Nataliya Shiraz 2016/17Dimension Intention of the interview - Usually gathering information - Educational (giving information) Level of standardization - Fully standardized (questionnaire) - Half standardized (with an interviewguideline) - Non-standardized Number of participants - Single participant (usual for expertinterview) - Group interviewsType of communication - Face to face- Via voice media - Via written media Type of questions - Open-ended question - Close-ended questions Dr Nataliya Shiraz 2016/17 5"