Qualitative research is primarily an exploratory research used to understand underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations and provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research.

1. Interviews for
research: FGDs,
KII and IDIs
BY:IRENE OBI
FOR:PRESTON HEALTHCARE CONSULTING LTD.
DATE: 24TH MARCH, 2017

2. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

3. Objective
To understand the definition as well as differences between Interview, Research, FGD, IDI,
and KII
To know the differences between qualitative and quantitative interview
To identify the methods of Qualitative Research Data Collection
To know the criteria for evaluating the quality of a study.
To identify the steps in interviewing
To be aware of ethical issues in qualitative research.

4. Terminology
Research: Systematic application of a family of methods that are employed to provide
trustworthy information about problems (Gay & Airasian, 2000)
Interview: Data-collection method that involves oral questioning of respondents, either
individually or as a group to gather information on a particular research or program topic.
Focus Group Discussion (FGD): Data-collection method used to gather information from a
group of people
In-Depth Interview (IDI): Data-collection method used to gather information about an
individual’s perspectives on a specific topic

5. Terminology contd.
Key Informant: An individual who has special knowledge / information relating to the research
Bias: Possible influence to result by researcher making it not trustworthy
Probing: A process of asking follow-up question that encourage a participant to expand an initial
answer to obtain more in-depth in their response
Phenomenon: A situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or
explanation is in question
Data collection: A systematic approach to gathering and measuring information from a variety of
sources to get a complete and accurate picture of an area of interest.

6. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

7. Introduction
Research
A systematic, methodical and ethical process of enquiry and investigation.
Types of Research
Quantitative Research: Collection and analyses of numerical data.
Qualitative Research: Examining and reflecting on the less tangible aspects of a
research subject.

8. WHAT IS QUALITATIVE RESEARCH?
Qualitative research is primarily an exploratory
research used to understand underlying
reasons, opinions, and motivations and
provides insights into the problem or helps to
develop ideas or hypotheses for potential
quantitative research.
Introduction contd.

9. Goals of Qualitative Research
Sample questions
Exploration What happens in an inclusion classroom when both regular
education and special education teachers are co-teaching?
Descriptive What are the perspectives of regular education about inclusion
of children with special needs in the regular classroom?
Interpretation How has the kinesthetic teaching and learning strategies in the
language arts classes affected the learning experience of
middle school children who have been diagnosed with ADHD

10. •Richer and descriptive information
•New and/or deeper insight into phenomenon
•Flexible
•Reduces data entry error
•Smaller sample size
•Triangulation
•More expensive/resource intensive
•Time consuming
•Prone to interviewer bias
•Anonymity and Confidentiality
Advantages Disadvantages
Qualitative research

11. Rationale for choosing Qualitative Research
Breakwell (1990: 81) states: ‘The interview approach relies heavily upon respondents
being able and willing to give accurate information’
Consider the nature of the phenomenon you want to study
Determine what you want to know about the phenomenon
Be clear about your goals

12. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

13. Methods of Qualitative Research Data Collection
The main methods for collecting qualitative research data are:
1. Interviews
2. Focus groups
3. Observations
4. Action Research

14. INTERVIEWS
Interviewing is one of the most commonly used survey methods in
present-day qualitative research (Berg, 1998; Denzin & Lincoln, 1998;
Jones, 1985; Kvale, 1996; Mishler, 1986; Morgan, 1993).
In-depth interviews can be defined as a qualitative
research technique which involves “conducting intensive
individual interviews with a small number of respondents
to explore their perspectives on a particular idea, program
or situation” (Boyce and Neale, 2006, p.3).

15. TYPES OF INTERVIEW
STRUCTURED
FOCUSED INTERVIEWS
PRE DETERMINED/CLOSE ENDED
QUESTIONS
QUICK AND EASY TO ADMINISTER
LIMITED RESPONSES/LACK DETAIL
CHEAPER TO OBTAIN INFO
SEMI-STRUCTURED
 FOCUSED INTERVIEWS
 OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS
 TIME CONSUMING
 ENCORAGES PROBING
 EXPENSIVE TO EMPLOY AND
TRAIN INTERVIEWERS
UNSTRUCTURED
 RESPONSE DEPENDENT
QUESTIONS
 TIME CONSUMING
 DETAILED DISCUSSIONS
 EXPENSIVE TO EMPLOY AND
TRAIN INTERVIEWERS

16. Difference between qualitative and quantitative interview
Qualitative Quantitative
Focus Quality or meaning of
experience
Quantity, Frequency,
magnitide
Philosophical root Interpretivism (Holliday 2002)
Subjective
Positivism-Objective
Goals of investigation Understand, describe, discover Predict, control, confirm, test
Design characteristics Flexible, evolving, emergent Structured, pre determined
Data collection Researcher as instrument External instruments: Test,
surveys

17. Focus groups (1st used by Bogardus 1926)
Powell et al defined a focus group as a group of individuals selected and assembled by researchers to
discuss and comment on, from personal experience, the topic of the research. (1996: 499)
The aim of the focus group is to make use of participants' feelings, perceptions and opinions.
Characteristics of a focus group:
1. 6-10 people (Morgan, 1997)
2. Several focus groups needed for objectivity
3. Homogeneity

18. Uses of group interviews
Exploration
Foster social change
Group interaction
Triangulation
Limited resources

20.  Gain people’s confidence and cooperation
 Active Listening/Observing
 Great interpersonal skills
 Articulate enough to prompt respondents to talk
 Group Skills
Qualities of Good interviewers

21. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

22. •Thematizing
•Designing
•Interviewing
•Transcribing
•Analyzing
•Verifying
•Reporting
Stages of Qualitative interview investigation

23. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

24. Ethics in Qualitative interviewing
It is the moral deliberation, choice and accountability on
the part of researchers throughout the research process
(Edwards and Mauthner 2002: 16).
Major Ethical principles
1. Respect for persons
2. Beneficence
3. Justice

25. Ethics in Qualitative interviewing contd.
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2003, p. 131) summarized the main issues to consider:
 The rights of privacy of individuals
 Voluntary nature of participation
 Consent and possible deception of participants
 Maintenance of the confidentiality of data provided by participants and their anonymity
 Reactions of participants to the ways in which researchers seek to collect data
 Effects on participants of the way in which data is analyzed and reported
 Behaviour and objectivity of the researcher

26. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

27. Steps in Interviewing
Preparation for the interview
 Locate and enlist cooperation of respondents
 Motivate respondents
 Clarify any confusion/concerns
 Rehearsing of interview
 Understand your questions, and the kind of
information you intend to gather from the interview.
 Do the background research

28. Steps in Interviewing contd.
Opening Remarks
 Gaining entry
 Doorstep technique
 Introduction
 Explaining the study
Asking the Questions
• Ask questions exactly as written
• Follow the order given
• Ask every question
• Don't finish sentences
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

29. Obtaining Adequate Responses - The
Probe
• Silent probe
• Overt encouragement
• Elaboration
• Clarification
• Repetition
Recording the Response
• Record response immediately
• Use abbreviations
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW CONTD.
Steps in Interviewing contd.

30.  Thank the respondent
 Don't be brusque or hasty
 Write down observations
CONCLUDING THE INTERVIEW
Steps in Interviewing contd.

31. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

32. Criteria for quality in qualitative research
Validity is a piece of research showing
what it claims to show (Goodman, 2008a)

33. Strategies for ensuring validity
(Creswell, 2007)
Prolonged
engagement
Validity
Clarifying
Researchers
bias
Member
checking
External
auditor
Rich thick
description
Triangulation
Peer
debriefing
Discrepant
information

34. Outline
OBJECTIVE
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION
STAGES OF QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW INVESTIGATION
ETHICS IN QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWING
STEPS IN INTERVIEWING
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
CONCLUSION

35.  Qualitative research requires great efforts with researchers having to
explore how they conceive the world
 Interviews and focus groups discussions remain the most common
methods of data collection in qualitative research
 The success of a qualitative interview study depends on the decisions
you make at the beginning of the research process when designing your
study
Conclusion

36. Bibliography
Boyce, C & Neale, P, 2006, “Conducting in-depth Interviews: A Guide for Designing and Conducting In-
Depth Interviews”, Pathfinder International Tool Series
Patton, M.Q. (1990) Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods (2nd edition). Newbury Park, CA: Sage
Training in Qualitative Research Methods for PVOs and NGOs (and Counterparts), Center for Refugee and
Disaster Studies, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, 2000
Rapid Assessment Procedures - Qualitative Methodologies for Planning and Evaluation of Health Related
Programmes, edited by Nevin S. Scrimshaw and Gary R. Gleason, 1992

37. Bibliography contd.
The Handbook for Excellence in Focus Group Research, Mary Debus, AED; and Making Sense of Focus
Group Findings, 1998
Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide, FHI, 2005
Mauthner, M., Birch, M., Jessop, J. and Miller, T. (eds) (2002) Ethics in Qualitative Research. London: Sage.
Cohen D, Crabtree B. "Qualitative Research Guidelines Project." July
2006. http://www.qualres.org/HomeUnst-3630.html
May K M. Interview techniques in qualitative research: concerns and challenges. In Morse J M
(ed) Qualitative nursing research. pp 187–201. Newbury Park: Sage Publications, 1991