Data Collection methods in Qualitative Research : Interview, Types, Pros & Cons and mode and steps
by Muhammad Yousuf Ali
Data collection techniques allow us to systematically collect information about our objects of study (people, objects, phenomena) and about the settings in which the study focus.
There are 4 methods of data collection in qualitative Research?
1. Interview
2. Focus Groups Interview
3. Observation
4. Documents & Artifacts
In this article Interview methods is discuss in details and try to cover the following topics of interview.
1 What is an interview in Qualitative data collection?
1. Interview
An INTERVIEW is a data-collection (generation) technique that involves oral questioning from respondents.
Answers to the questions posed during an interview can be recorded by writing them down or by tape-recording the responses, or by a combination of both.
2. What are the main types of interview?
There are three main types of interview in qualitative research?
Types of Interview:
a. Structured Interviews – Simply put, it is a verbally administered questionnaire. In terms of depth, it is surface level and is usually completed within a short period. For speed and efficiency, it is highly recommendable, but it lacks depth.
b. Semi-structured Interviews – In this method, there subsist several key questions which cover the scope of the areas to be explored. It allows a little more leeway for the researcher to explore the subject matter.
c. Unstructured Interviews – It is an in-depth interview that allows the researcher to collect a wide range of information with a purpose. An advantage of this method is the freedom it gives a researcher to combine structure with flexibility even though it is more time-consuming.
3. What are the Pro and Cons of an interview?
Pros
- In-depth information
- Freedom of flexibility
- Accurate data.
Cons
- Time-consuming find time to Interview
- Effect of behaviour at the time of interview
4. What are the mode of interview?
There are three mode of interview
- Face-to-Face
- Phone
- Online Skype, Zoom, Microsofteam and etc.
5. What are the important steps involved in interviews?
What are the important steps involved in interviews?
Step # 1 Design interview questions
- Think about who you will interview
2. Think about what kind of information you want to obtain from interviews
3. Think about why you want to pursue in-depth information around your research topic
Step # 2 Develop an interview guide
Introduce yourself and explain the aim of the interview
Devise your questions so interviewees can help answer your research question
Have a sequence to your questions / topics by grouping them in themes
Make sure you can easily move back and forth between questions / topics
Make sure your questions are clear and easy to understand
Do not ask leading questions
Step # 3Plan and manage logistics
Do you want to bring a second interviewer with you?
Do you want to bring a notetaker?
Do you want to record interviews? If so, do you have time to transcribe interview recordings?
Where will you interview people? Where is the setting with the least distraction?
How long will each interview take?
Do you need to address terms of confidentiality?
Cite This article
MY Ali ( 04 Feb 2021). Data Collection methods in Qualitative Research : Interview, Types, Pros & Cons and mode and steps. https://profileusuf.wordpress.com/interview/
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