Reports-In, Wiki Update, $$$ Silverman’s 6 Class Activity: The Art of Interviewing--------------------Dinner Break--------------------- Report-Outs

› Input and ideas from the class Discussion: Concerns in Creating

Instruments and Collecting Data Group-work

1. Don’t mistake a critique for a reasoned alternative.

2. Avoid taking the actor’s point of view as an explanation

3. Recognize that the phenomenon always escapes

4. Avoid choosing between all polar opposites5. Never appeal to a single element as an

explanation6. Understand the cultural forms through which

“truths” are accomplished.

Interviewing isn’t hard› An interview is just a conversation that has

a purpose and (some) structure

Interviewing isn’t easy› It is a performance that requires both

careful planning and artful execution (of course it’s really easy to do it poorly)

Presentation based on the work of Kvale (1996)

Purpose› Exploration / Hypothesis Testing

Mode› Description / Interpretation

Openness of Purpose› Direct Approach / Indirect Approach

Rationality› Intellectual / Emotional

Well-structured› Formalized question wording› Standardized sequence of questions

(possible branching)› Interviewers interchangeable

Semi-structured› Pre-determined themes / question areas› Formulation and sequence flexible, follow-

up questions determined on the fly Unstructured

› Only a topic-introducing question is planned

Knowledge is the gold nuggets that need to be uncovered and extracted› Objective facts› Essential meaning

Assumes › Nuggets are pre-existing› Nuggets are unaltered

by the extraction process Aligns with an objectivist

epistemologyImage Source: http://www.synthstuff.com/mt/archives/bertrand-miner.jpg

The interviewer is on a journey to explore unknown territory› They may seek out specific

sites or topics The outcome of conversations

is a coproduction of the interviewer and the subject

Goals include:› Understand the world from the

subjects’ point of view /unfold the meaning of experiences

Aligns with a constructionist / subjectivst epistemology

Image Source: http://www.synthstuff.com/mt/archives/bertrand-miner.jpg

“What grades did you get?” “What are your study

habits?”

“You feel that grades are not an adequate measure of your competence?”

In a semi-structured interview a student says:

“I am not as stupid as my grades on the test say I am, I just have bad study habits”

The Miner Says: The Traveler Says:

Objectivity of the Interviewer› No leading questions

The subject’s ideas already exist, the goal is to reveal them› May or may not be conscious to the subject

Expectation of Convergence› Process of honing in

Questions must be cleverly designed to uncover the truth

Focus on Themes of Meaning› Not completely free-form, where do questions lead

Strive for Specificity› Elicitation of rich, nuanced descriptions of specific

situations and actions, not general opinions (it’s not just about asking your research Qs)

Flexibility› Interviewer needs to be open to new and

unexpected phenomenon (not ready-made interpretations)

› Realize that the process of the interview may change not only the interviewer’s understanding, but also that of the subject

Subject as Intellectual Companion

Watch carefully Answer the question on the

paper I gave you No sharing with your neighbor!

Reliability Validity

DefinitionConsistency of research findings

Correctness / Defensibilty of Knowledge Claim

Interchangeability of interviewers

Avoid leading questions

Verification / Correspondence with reality

Triangulation

Craft of the interviewer

Leading questions can uncover suspect info or test subject statements

Falsification / Always check, question and follow-up surprises.

Crystallization

Thematic› The question (question area) relates to the

research topic / questions and the theoretical conceptions underlying it

Analytic › The question is posed in a form that will

facilitate the planned analysis (e.g. rich narrative versus conceptual categories)

Dynamic› The question promotes a positive interaction

(keeps the conversation going and motivates openness). Question should be short, clear and jargon-free

1. Introducing Questions› “Can you tell me about…?”› “Do you remember an occasion when…?”

2. Follow-Up Questions› Nods and “Hmms”› Repeat signification words / implicit ideas› Look for unusual terms / intonation / body lang.

3. Silence› Let the subject associate, reflect and break the

silence with important information

4. Probing Questions› “Could you say more about that…?”› “Do you have other examples of that…?”

5. Specifying Questions› “What did you do in that situation…?”› “In what way was that hurtful to you…?”

6. Direct Questions› “Have you ever copied someone else’s work?’

7. Indirect Questions› “How do you think other students feel about

copying work?”

8. Structuring Questions› “I would now like to introduce another

topic…”

9. Interpreting Questions› “Do you mean that…?”› “Does the expression _______ capture what

you have just expressed?”› “Do you see any connections between your

attitudes towards copying work and the incident you mentioned about your brother?”

Introduction: Provide a context› Purpose, consent, tape recorder

First 5 minutes: The Key to the Interview› Inspire comfort and confidence with attentive

listening with interest and respect Conclusion: Debrief the Subject

› Opportunity to bring up other issues, ask questions, what happens when you turn the tape recorder off

Immediate Field Notes› Impressions based on interpersonal interaction

that may not be captured on tape

How do students use online course discussion forums?

Group Alpha Group Zed

How do students develop identities as participants in online discussions?

Group Alpha Group Zed

Where is your group at?

What have you done?

What are you working on now?

What is your biggest concern?

What are the big issues to worry about in collecting data from an objectivist perspective? (Argumentation)

What are the big issues to worry about in collecting data from a constructionist perspective? (Greening Gotham, Wario, SuperStar)

What are the big issues to worry about in setting up an experimental design? (Argumentation)

What are the big issues to worry about in terms of sampling? (Wario and Greening Gotham)

What are the big issues to worry about in collecting survey data?(Team SuperStar)

What are the big issues to worry about in analyzing online documents (posts / blogs)? (Greening Gotham, Super Star)