Qualitative Research in Practice : Stories From the Field - Blogs Unpad
Qualitative Research in Practice : Stories From the Field - Blogs Unpad
Qualitative Research in Practice : Stories From the Field - Blogs Unpad
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In-depth <strong>in</strong>terview<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Yvonne: So a lot of that was orient<strong>in</strong>g you to <strong>the</strong> community,<br />
help<strong>in</strong>g you to get some sense of what life was like <strong>in</strong><br />
that community.<br />
Angel<strong>in</strong>a: And also help<strong>in</strong>g me to understand <strong>the</strong> context of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
lives because when I started to do <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviews, I<br />
needed to know what <strong>the</strong>y were talk<strong>in</strong>g about and to<br />
be able to strike up a conversation. So it helped a lot.<br />
The <strong>in</strong>terviews<br />
Angel<strong>in</strong>a: I remember that for <strong>the</strong> first <strong>in</strong>terview, I had a very<br />
detailed question guidel<strong>in</strong>e set up after <strong>the</strong> focus<br />
groups, but <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> end I th<strong>in</strong>k I only asked a few questions<br />
from it. I <strong>the</strong>n decided not to use it at all because<br />
I found that if I followed <strong>the</strong> question guidel<strong>in</strong>e mechanically,<br />
it ru<strong>in</strong>ed my relationship with <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviewee<br />
and <strong>the</strong> flow of conversation ...so I still had a set of<br />
questions at <strong>the</strong> back of my m<strong>in</strong>d but <strong>the</strong>se questions<br />
were ra<strong>the</strong>r free-flow<strong>in</strong>g and open-ended. I tried to<br />
follow [<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviewee’s] direction as it went ...for<br />
me <strong>the</strong> most important question was to f<strong>in</strong>d out about<br />
<strong>the</strong> flow of <strong>the</strong>ir life course and <strong>the</strong> most critical<br />
events <strong>the</strong>y encounter. Also, dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>se critical<br />
events, what k<strong>in</strong>d of support do <strong>the</strong>y receive, from<br />
whom, and how and what k<strong>in</strong>d of difficulties do <strong>the</strong>y<br />
encounter—do <strong>the</strong>y really receive <strong>the</strong> help that <strong>the</strong>y<br />
would like to receive and what are <strong>the</strong> consequences,<br />
et cetera. In addition, I wanted to know <strong>the</strong>ir values<br />
and <strong>the</strong>ir perceptions of <strong>the</strong> whole process. So <strong>the</strong>se<br />
were basically <strong>the</strong> major issues that I had. O<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
that, all <strong>the</strong> little questions didn’t really matter, so after<br />
<strong>the</strong> first <strong>in</strong>terview I decided to scrap <strong>the</strong> guidel<strong>in</strong>e and<br />
just let <strong>the</strong> conversation flow.<br />
Yvonne: And did you tape <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviews?<br />
Angel<strong>in</strong>a: Yes. I asked <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviewees’ permission and usually<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>y were a little bit cautious but<br />
gradually <strong>the</strong>y began to enjoy do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terview.<br />
Yvonne: Were <strong>the</strong>re cultural issues around <strong>the</strong> process of <strong>in</strong>terview<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
I’m wonder<strong>in</strong>g was this an unfamiliar k<strong>in</strong>d of<br />
encounter for <strong>the</strong> women?<br />
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