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Abstract
Semi-structured interviewing is an important tool for gathering data in qualitative research. This paper explores some of the joys and challenges associated with research interviewing. It discusses some of the basic skills required to do interviewing well, some of the difficulties associated with interviewing on a practical and emotional level, and how to address them. Being a good interviewer in a research context means to be aware of the responsibility for the participants' wellbeing as well as one's own. Good listening skills and emotional control are among the most crucial skills to develop. This paper summarises some of the skills needed to remain or become a professional, empathetic and ethical interviewer in the context of community practice. If some basic guidelines are followed and combined with practice, the craft of interviewing can become an art
Keywords
Interviews, qualitative research, ethics, reflective practice
Community Practitioner, 2010; 83(7): 18-21.
Introduction
Interviewing has become a staple technique in qualitative research. It is also ubiquitous in other contexts such as the media, which might lead to the belief that interviewing is easy - only requiring some questions to be fired at the opponent. However, this is not true of journalistic interviewing, and even less so of interviewing in a research context. Good interviewing requires empathy, knowledge of the subject and other basic skills such as listening, time management and organisational skills. Interviewing in a research context also has important ethical dimensions. This is never more important than in a health and community practice context, where practitioners are often working with vulnerable groups and children.
This paper will not delve into much detail about the epistemologica! basis for qualitative research, or provide an answer to the question of why (or why not) to interview. It will also not discuss the analysis of interview material in any detail. Rather, this article will explore some of the joys and challenges associated with research interviewing. It will discuss some of the basic skills required to do interviewing well, and how to remain or become a professional, empathetic and ethical interviewer in the context of primary care and community practice.
The main premise for this article stems from one of the seminal textbooks on interviewing by Kvale, namely that 'Interview research is...