Qualitative Research: Interviews and Observation in Social Work

Precautions in Qualitative Observation

It is impossible to observe all phenomena that occur in selected scenarios. Events that occur less frequently can only be captured by a lucky or very careful choice of situations. One way to counter this problem is to extend the fieldwork.

Reliability problems arise from differences among various observers and the evolution of the researchers themselves. Criteria should be set for specific observation, and reviewing the journals of the field to carry out self-observation is recommended.

Denzin talks about some possible threats to internal validity:

• Historical factors that occurred before the observation, the disregard of which can cause errors of interpretation. It is proposed to use documents and interviews to mitigate this.
• The indirect nature of some information offered by key informants, whose cooperation with the observer may have undergone changes resulting from the interaction. It is proposed to use field notes to reflect and control the evolution of the relationship.
• Reactive effects of observation, especially in cases of covert observation. It is proposed to record all responses received to contextualize the situation better.
• The possible transformation of the researcher through a process known as "going native." The researcher must look back at the specific notes to be aware of their changes in sensitivity and mood.
• Other biases may arise from situations not adequately contextualized. In-depth interviews and documentation are recommended to overcome these shortcomings.

The Qualitative Interview

Introduction

The most envied advantage of qualitative research arises from the fact that, although few people are studied, the information obtained is enormous. This is particularly true in in-depth interviews, also known as open or unstructured interviews. Through conversational procedures, these interviews seek to understand social reality from the perspective of the interviewee and dissect the meanings they attach to their experiences. This chapter begins with an introduction that places the interview within all social research practices. It then establishes a typology of the alternatives most relevant to social work practice. Finally, it explores the design and dynamics of the interview and the strategies for analysis.

The Place of the Interview in Research Practice

The most popular form of social interaction is conversation. Asking questions to get answers that in turn generate new questions is the basic structure of the most powerful formula for understanding and being understood by humans around us. However, we intuitively realize that we cannot use the same patterns of question-answer when asking for directions from a stranger, undergoing a job interview, or having a conversation with a friend to ask for advice about a personal matter. The social context and the purpose of the interaction will guide us on the strategies to follow to obtain the best possible result. But the task of asking good questions and getting better answers is not as easy as it might seem. Language, both physical and verbal, is loaded with connotations and ambiguities that can trigger reactions opposite to those desired in social interaction situations. It is therefore necessary to make controlled use of it. Learning such use becomes a priority for both good communicators and social researchers.