Best Practices In Interviewing

Required Readings

Saldaña, J. (2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Chapter 1, “An Introduction to Codes and Coding” (pp. 1–42) (previously read in Weeks 5 and 6)

Chapter 2, “Writing Analytic Memos About Narrative and Visual Data” (pp. 43–65) (previously read in Weeks 5 and 6)

Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Chapter 5, “Methods of Data Collection” (pp. 145–183)

Chapter 7, “An Integrative Approach to Data Analysis” (pp. 215–236) (previously read in Weeks 5 and 6)

Chapter 8, “Methods and Processes of Data Analysis” (pp. 237–270) (previously read in Weeks 5 and 6)

Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Chapter 6, “Conversational Partnerships” (pp. 71–93)

Chapter 7, “The Responsive Interview as an Extended Conversation” (pp. 95–114)

Chapter 8, “Structure of the Responsive Interview” (pp. 115–129)

Chapter 9, “Designing Main Questions and Probes” (pp. 131–147)

Chapter 10, “Preparing Follow-Up Questions” (pp. 149–169)

Chapter 12, “Data Analysis in the Responsive Interviewing Model” (pp. 189–211) (previously read in Weeks 5 and 6)

Yob, I., & Brewer, P. (n.d.). Working toward the common good: An online university’s perspectives on social change, 1-25.

Review this Excel template as you view this week’s media program related to coding. Also, you will use this template for organizing your data and preparing for coding.

Required Media

In the following Part One and Part Two media programs, Dr. Linda Crawford provides two separate demonstrations of an interview conducted in a school setting. As you watch, focus on the differences between the two demonstrations in these areas:

The interview setting

The interview process

Interviewer and interviewee behavior and body language (Is rapport being built? How?)

The interview questions (Which questions elicited better information?)

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Doctoral research: Interviewing techniques, part one [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.

Accessible player

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Doctoral research: Interviewing techniques, part two [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 14 minutes.

Accessible player

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). First cycle coding: Structural coding [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 8 minutes.

In this media program, Dr. Susan Marcus, Core Research Faculty with the School of Psychology at Walden University, introduces the first cycle of coding, structural coding. She will demonstrate how to begin highlighting text to matches the label of social change for example.

 

For this Discussion, you will view videos that depict different interviewing techniques. You will then analyze and evaluate the techniques used, and you will discuss how you will utilize best practices when you conduct your own interviews.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review Chapter 12 of the Rubin and Rubin course text.
• Review the two media segments on interviewing. As you view the videos, practice your observation skills by creating field notes for yourself. Be careful to distinguish between observation and interpretation as Dr. Crawford warns in the videos.
• Consider the following questions for your post to evaluate the techniques used in each interview. Which practices could you use in your own interview? Which practices should you avoid? Where did the person in the video go wrong? How could this issue have been avoided or corrected?