Qualitative Research in Practice : Stories From the Field - Blogs Unpad

Qualitative research in practice
want to interview someone. The interview content itself can impact
on tape quality—people’s voices may fade if they become distressed.
There will be times when the only option is to pause the
tape. While it is helpful to discuss at the initial contact the importance
of relative quiet and uninterrupted time, we need to be careful
not to cross that bridge where we seem to be dictating to our
research participants how they should be in their own homes.
Ending
Every social interaction has a beginning, a middle and an end, and
for the interaction to be completed successfully, in a manner satisfactory
to all parties, each part has to go well. Research interactions
are no exception.
In considering endings, we need to think of the ending of each
interaction, if there are to be multiple interviews, as well as the
ending of the participant’s involvement in the research.
There will always be obligations to report back to participants at
some stage—being given a copy of a research report or information
on how to access it would be minimal. Further ongoing contact
may well have been negotiated. The important thing is that both
researcher and participant are clear about what is expected and that
the researcher both follows through on mutually agreed arrangements
and does not create expectations of ongoing involvement that
they are not able or prepared to meet.
The ending of each interaction is no less important and needs to
be planned for. Endings should not come as a surprise. Being clear
about the time each has available to talk at the beginning of the
interview establishes the parameters of the interaction. Even so, it is
generally helpful to include some reminders towards the latter part
of the interview, particularly if the participant has become very
involved in talking about their experiences and the conversation
seems not to be coming to a natural end. Such reminders should be
given in plenty of time, not just five minutes before the end of the
interview. It can be helpful to let the participant know where you
are in the process, for example, ‘I have just a couple more things I’d
like to ask you about’. Always ask whether there is anything else
they would like to say—and leave time for them to say it. Also
consider that you may need to leave time to negotiate another
contact if an interview is unexpectedly long and time is running out.
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