The Qualitative Research Interview, Focus Groups and Comparison

Qualitative Research Interview

Qualitative interviews makes use of a variety of approaches, for more diversified information. The interviews are the most familiar strategies for collecting qualitative data.

The Purpose of using it is to focusing on in-depth personal interviews, and individuals, review common qualitative interview methods and reserving the rights for individuals participating in these interviews.

There are 3 methods. Interviews can be:

1. Unstructured
   1. Can be referred to as 'depth' or 'in depth' interviews
   2. They have very little structure at all
   3. The interviewer may just go with the aim of discussing a limited number of topics, sometimes as few as just one or two
   4. The interviewer may frame the interview questions based on the interviewee and his/her previous response
   5. This allows the discussion to cover areas in great detail
   6. They involve the researcher wanting to know or find out more about a specific topic without there being a structure or a preconceived plan or expectation as to how they will deal with the topic
2. Semi structured
   1. Semi structured interviews are sometimes also called focused interviews
   2. A series of open ended questions based on the topic areas the researcher wants to cover
   3. A series of broad questions to ask and may have some prompts to help the interviewee
   4. 'The open ended nature of the question defines the topic under investigation but provides opportunities for both interviewer and interviewee to discuss some topics in more detail'
   5. Semi structured interviews allow the researcher to promt or encourage the interviewee if they are looking for more information or find what they are saying interesting
   6. This method gives the researcher the freedom to probe the interviewee to elaborate or to follow a new line of inquiry introduced by what the interviewee is saying
   7. Work best when the interviewed has a number of areas he/she wants to be sure to be addressing
3. Structured
1. The interviewed asks the respondent the same questions in the same way
2. A tightly structured schedule is used
3. The questions may be phrased in order that a limited range of responses may be given - i.e. 'Do you rate our services as very good, good or poor'
4. A researcher needs to consider whether a questionnaire or structured interview is more appropriate
5. 'If the interview schedule is too tightly structured this may not enable the phenomena under investigation to be explored in terms of either breadth or depth.

To do qualitative interviews,  use open-ended questions, avoid leading questions, probe issue in depth and let the informant lead.

The benefits and the loss of using it:

Advantages

• Subjects can be investigated in depth.
• Interviews are not limited to particular questions and can be redirected or guided by researchers in real time.
• The direction and framework of research can be revised quickly as soon as fresh information and findings emerge.
• Data is more powerful as it is research based on human experience
• Complexities and subtleties about the subjects of the research or the topic covered is usually missed by many positivistic inquiries.
• Data is usually gathered from few individuals or cases therefore findings and outcomes cannot be spread to larger populations. However, findings can be transferred to another setting.
• With this type of research, the researcher has a clear vision on what to expect. They collect data in a genuine effort of plugging data to bigger picture.

Disadvantages

• The quality of research is heavily dependent on the skills of the researcher and can be easilyinfluenced by personal idiosyncrasies and biases of researchers.
• Rigidity is more difficult to assess, demonstrate and maintain.
• The quantity of data makes interpretation and analysis time-consuming.
• This method is sometimes not accepted within scientific communities.
• The presence of researcher in the process of data gathering is unavoidable and can thereforeaffect or influence the responses of subjects.
• Personal confidential issues.

Conclusion

In-depth interviews can provide rich and in-depth information about the experiences of individuals. However, there are many different forms of qualitative research interviews as well as other types of qualitative research methods that can be used by health care investigators. It must also be recognized that many clinical questions are complex and investigators should perform a thoughtful analysis of all the possible methods that can be used to answer a research question. Increasingly, mixed methods in which both qualitative and quantitative approaches are integrated are needed to contribute to a rich and comprehensive study. Mixed methods can provide potentially rigorous and methodologically sound study designs in primary care, with qualitative approaches such as interviews being an integral component of an evolving study process that is responsive to emerging insights.

Focus Groups

Focus groups is a form of qualitative research that involves a group of selected individuals who freely discuss and share their opinion concerning a particular topic or issue (In-depth group interview).

The Use of it:

• For research relating to group norms, meanings and processes
• To collect group language to be used in later stages
• To clarify, extend, qualify or challenge date collected through other methods
• To feedback results to research participants

The use of focus groups is sometimes used when it is better to obtain information from a group rather than individuals.

Group interviews can be used when:

1. Limited resources (time, manpower, finances)
2. The phenomena being researched requires a collective discussion in order to understand the circumstances, behaviour or opinions
3. Greater insights may be developed of the group dynamic - or cause and consequence

Characteristics of a focus group:

1. Recommended size of the sample group is 6 - 10 people as smaller groups may limit the potential on the amount of information collected, and more may make it difficult for all participants to participate and interact and for the interviewer to be able to make sense of the information given
2. Several focus groups should be used in order to get a more objective and macro view of the investigation. i.e. focussing on one group may give you idiosyncratic results. The use of several groups will add to the breadth and depth of information. A minimum of three focus groups is recommended for best practice approaches
3. Members of the focus group should have something in common which is important to the investigation
4. Groups can either be put together or existing groups - it is always useful to be mindful of the group dynamics of both situations

The aim of the focus group is to make use of participants' feelings, perceptions and opinions

This method requires the researcher to use a range of skills:

1. group skills
2. facilitating
3. moderating
4. listening/observing
5. analysis

Conclusions

It is a good way to know what interviewers opinion and feedbacks, because in order to succeed on the research they have to ask and thing outside the box.

Comparisons

Qualitative interviews need 2 or more parties conversation. They usually last 30 minutes to one hour. It can be held in-person or over the phone. While for focus groups need a small group of 6-10  people on a specific topic, One facilitator and one note taker, and usually last one to two hours. But both have combination of predetermined questions and unscripted probes.

Qualitative interviews' strengths are the detailed information about personal feelings and opinions, high response rate, uncertainty and incomplete answers be clarified up-front, and interviewees are not influenced by others in the group.

Focus groups' strengths are the variety of responses and research input, less time and money consuming, direct interaction, group dynamics, data from illiterate population, and opportunity to seek clarifications.

Qualitative interviews' weakness are time consuming, different interviewers may understand and transcribe interviews in different ways, and it can reach high cost.

Focus groups' weakness are lack of confidentiality and anonymity, got issues with group dynamics, no control, contrived and misinterpretation is possible.

If both are discussing about certain topic, qualitative interviews may work better when a topic is very sensitive or volatile. While Focus groups can provide more thoughtful answers, based on the group hearing each other’s responses.

When it comes to time framing, qualitative interviews allow more flexibility in setting up interviews, rather than having to schedule a larger group of people. but for the focus groups, they work better when there are limited time frames.

For assisting, qualitative interviews need two people to do interviews and for focus groups: one facilitator and one note taker. Taping the focus groups is also recommended for ease.

For budget, tape recorder and transcription costs for qualitative interviews. Focus groups need incentives like free food, cash, entries in drawings.

Conclusions

Both Interviews and Focus groups are a form of exploratory research that can be used to gain insights regarding the problem or issues raised by understanding subjective motivations and opinions. Both methods helps and leads to the upcoming quantitative researches.