L5 | ENRICHING DATA THROUGH OBSERVATION AND INTERVIEWS

• METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

  1. OBSERVATION
  2. INTERVIEW
• OBSERVATION

  • Preferred tool for collecting data where the use of interviews and questionnaires. 
  • To observe and study people in their natural settings, we use senses.
• GUIDELINES

  • Observations should be certain and carefully planned. Pre-planned research questions serve as guide throughout the process. 
  • An observation checklist should be prepared prior to the observation process. This shall be used for recording observations. A video recording may also be used when observing behavioral data that you want to measure or collect. 
  • Both qualitative and quantitative research methods may be used for data analysis.
• CLASSIFICATION OF OBSERVATIONS:

  1. OVERT
  2. COVERT
• OVERT OBSERVATION

  • people being observed are aware that they are being observed and what the research aims are.
• COVERT OBSERVATION

  • people being observed are unaware that they are being observed, and the observer is concealed
• RESEARCH METHODS FOR COLLECTING DATA (OBSERVATION):

  1. PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
  2. DIRECT OBSERVATION
  3. SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION
• PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

  • researcher becomes immersed in the group or setting being studied, participating in their daily activities. 
  • GOAL: to gain a deep understanding of the group's culture, beliefs, and practices from an insider's perspective. 
  • often used in anthropology, sociology, and other social sciences.
• DIRECT OBSERVATION

  • researcher watches and records the activities of individuals or groups
  • doesn't typically try to become a participant.
  • GOAL: to understand a particular behavior or phenomenon. 
  • The researcher strives to be as unobtrusive as possible so as not to bias the observations.
• SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION

  • researcher specifies the exact actions, attributes, or other variables that are to be recorded and precisely how they are to be recorded.
  • GOAL: to ensure that all observers will obtain the same results.
• INTERVIEW

  • Personal conversation between two or more people who constitute the target population to collect information for a research project.
  • Used to explore the viewpoints about something.
• INTERVIEW

  • preferred by researchers on qualitative research projects 
  • high response rate
  • longer time and opportunity to view behaviors and listen to personal views and perceptions about a research topic or interest
• TYPE OF INTERVIEWS:

  1. STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS
  2. UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS
  3. SEMI STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS
• STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

  • Verbally administered questionnaires. 
  • List of pre- determined questions is asked with little or no variation and with no scope for follow-up. questions to responses that warrant further elaboration. 
  • Only allow for limited participant responses and are, therefore, of little use if ‘depth’ is required.
• UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

  • Do not reflect any preconceived theories or ideas and are performed with little or no organization. 
  • Usually very time-consuming and can be difficult to manage and to participate in, as the lack of pre- determined interview questions provides little guidance on what to talk about, which may cause confusion to both participants and interviewer.
• SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

  • Consist of several key questions that help to define the areas to be explored, but also allows the interviewer or interviewee to diverge in order to pursue an idea or response in more detail. The flexibility of this approach, particularly.
• INTERVIEWING GROUPS OF PEOPLE FOR RESEARCH

  1. PLANNING STAGE
  2. DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENT
• 1. PLANNING STAGE

  • Identify the participants in the study first by groups. You may use purposive sampling. 
  • Have a listing of the respondents to be interviewed.
• 2. DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENT

  • Develop the interview guide 
  • List the question to be asked during the interview 
  • An ideal number of not more than 15 questions may guide you in the interview.
• FOCUS GROUPS

  • research interest is on the cultural norms of a group of people.  
  • Generate views, perceptions, practices and beliefs on issues unique to the cultural groups or subgroups represented.
• What are the key steps to prepare for an interview with respondents?

  • Employ purposive sampling
  • Invite respondents in advance
  • Send information sheet and consent form
  • Set time and venue
  • Set up technical support
  • Provide refreshments and travel expenses
  • Offer orientation about the interview
  • Explain research objectives and interview process
  • Develop interview guide with open-ended questions
  • Clarify responses in focus group interviews
• ADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW:

  • Good at dealing with topics in depth and in detail:
  • Flexible
  • Tend to prefer a conversation to a dry questionnaire
• DISADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW:

  • Time consuming
  • Can be unreliable, misleading
  • Require good social skills
  • Not appropriate for making generalizations