Qualitative research interviewing starts with identification of a research question and settling on a target small sample to help in obtaining an answer to that question. The interviewer should demonstrate professionalism and courtesy, by being smartly dressed and maintaining serious mien when dealing with respondents (Davies and Hughes 2014, p. 152). This enables interviewers to gain access to the interviewees’ perspectives.
It is important to engage with interviewees in a familiar and reasonably comfortable environment that is conducive to conversation to enable them feel free to discuss sensitive, confidential, and emotional matters. It is also critical to ensure that there is no moral, mental, or emotional barrier created between the interviewer and the interviewee (Davies and Hughes 2014, p. 154). The researcher has to assume an accepting position and should ensure that respondents understand that all that is required from them is being themselves and sharing their experiences, opinions, and feelings.
Importantly, the interview should be left to run a natural course by ensuring all the semi-structured topics in the mind are naturally covered and presented in an immaterial order (Davies and Hughes 2014, p. 155). The researcher has to be ready for the possibility of anger or tears in the course of the interview, particularly when the encounter offers a rather infrequent experience for the respondents.
When conducting qualitative research interview, the researcher should ensure that the beginning, the middle, and the end of the interview is clearly defined. The closure of the interview session need to be courteous and should not be too abrupt (Davies and Hughes 2014, p.155). The researcher should thank the interviewees and should not leave them with a feeling that they were being cynically used to benefit the researcher.
References
Davies, M.B. and Hughes, N. (2014). Doing a successful research project: Using qualitative or quantitative methods. Macmillan International Higher Education.
