Interviewing Situations Consider this scenario: A researcher has scheduled an interview with a person the researcher believes will provide rich research data for the study. The day before the interview, the interviewee contacts the researcher and says, I have had a family emergency and had to travel to another city. I wont be able to meet you in person for the interview, but I would still be able to answer questions in e-mail. What should the researcher do? Is it better to gather some data rather than not interview the person at all? To prepare for this Discussion: Review the readings for this week on interviewing. Think about a face-to-face interview. How important it is for the researcher to be able to see the body language, hear an interviewee's voice during the interview, and know the physical environment in which the interview is taking place? What data does this provide to the researcher? Consider possible means of conducting an interview that are not in person or face-to-face, such as interviewing over the phone, by video conference, by e-mail, or by synchronous chat. What are the potential strengths and weaknesses of each? What does the literature say about these interviewing situations? With these thoughts in mind: QUESTION: Post a response of 3 paragraphs assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different interviewing situations.. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Developing a Data Collection Tool Introduction Often, qualitative data is collected using a tool such as an interview protocol. As any carpenter knows, in order to achieve the expected results, you must use the correct tool. If you are addressing a new project, you may need to test a variety of carpentry tools to determine the appropriate tool for the project. Similarly, in qualitative research, it is vital to test the tools that you will use to gather data to ensure that the tools are getting you the data you need. This week you will develop and test a tool that you will use to collect the qualitative data that you will analyze in order to answer your research question. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Assess strengths and weaknesses of interviewing methods Develop and pilot a data collection tool _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Chapter 7, "Data Collection" In this chapter, you will read about the process for collecting data, including forms of data, sampling strategies, recording procedures, and field issues. Course Text: Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. o Chapter 6, "Fieldwork Strategies and Observation Methods" o Chapter 7, "Qualitative Interviewing" Chapter 6 describes fieldwork strategies and observation methods in qualitative research, including variations in observational methods, sources of data, the data-gathering process, and the stages of fieldwork. Chapter 7 provides an overview of qualitative interviewing, including variations, question options, neutrality, feedback, gathering interview data, cross-cultural interviewing, and ethical challenges in interviewing. Course Text: Janesick, V. J. (2011). "Stretching" exercises for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. o Chapter 2, "The Observation and Writing Habit" o Chapter 3, "Advancing the Observation and Reflection Habit" o Chapter 4, "The Interview and Writing Habit" Chapter 2 provides information about the observational process in qualitative research, including constructing a reflective portfolio, types of portfolios, and portfolio contents. Chapter 3 includes additional observation exercises and an example of an observation write up. Chapter 4 outlines the interview process, including types of interview questions and preparation of questions. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines.

Interviewing Situations Consider this scenario: A researcher has scheduled an interview with a person the researcher believes will provide rich research data for the study. The day before the interview, the interviewee contacts the researcher and says, I have had a family emergency and had to travel to another city. I wont be able to meet you in person for the interview, but I would still be able to answer questions in e-mail. What should the researcher do? Is it better to gather some data rather than not interview the person at all? To prepare for this Discussion: Review the readings for this week on interviewing. Think about a face-to-face interview. How important it is for the researcher to be able to see the body language, hear an interviewee's voice during the interview, and know the physical environment in which the interview is taking place? What data does this provide to the researcher? Consider possible means of conducting an interview that are not in person or face-to-face, such as interviewing over the phone, by video conference, by e-mail, or by synchronous chat. What are the potential strengths and weaknesses of each? What does the literature say about these interviewing situations? With these thoughts in mind: QUESTION: Post a response of 3 paragraphs assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different interviewing situations.. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Developing a Data Collection Tool Introduction Often, qualitative data is collected using a tool such as an interview protocol. As any carpenter knows, in order to achieve the expected results, you must use the correct tool. If you are addressing a new project, you may need to test a variety of carpentry tools to determine the appropriate tool for the project. Similarly, in qualitative research, it is vital to test the tools that you will use to gather data to ensure that the tools are getting you the data you need. This week you will develop and test a tool that you will use to collect the qualitative data that you will analyze in order to answer your research question. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Assess strengths and weaknesses of interviewing methods Develop and pilot a data collection tool _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Chapter 7, "Data Collection" In this chapter, you will read about the process for collecting data, including forms of data, sampling strategies, recording procedures, and field issues. Course Text: Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. o Chapter 6, "Fieldwork Strategies and Observation Methods" o Chapter 7, "Qualitative Interviewing" Chapter 6 describes fieldwork strategies and observation methods in qualitative research, including variations in observational methods, sources of data, the data-gathering process, and the stages of fieldwork. Chapter 7 provides an overview of qualitative interviewing, including variations, question options, neutrality, feedback, gathering interview data, cross-cultural interviewing, and ethical challenges in interviewing. Course Text: Janesick, V. J. (2011). "Stretching" exercises for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. o Chapter 2, "The Observation and Writing Habit" o Chapter 3, "Advancing the Observation and Reflection Habit" o Chapter 4, "The Interview and Writing Habit" Chapter 2 provides information about the observational process in qualitative research, including constructing a reflective portfolio, types of portfolios, and portfolio contents. Chapter 3 includes additional observation exercises and an example of an observation write up. Chapter 4 outlines the interview process, including types of interview questions and preparation of questions. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines.