It states about document analysis and Interview in qualitative research.

1. Kotebe University of Education
Faculty of Languages & Humanities
Department Foreign Language & Literature
DEd in ELT
Term Paper on Document analysis and Interview/In-depth
Interview
By: Dula Sanbato Arbas
April, 2023
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2. INTRODUCTION
 The main objective of this term paper is: to reflect on the
qualitative data collection tools (document analysis and
Interview/in-depth interview).
 This term paper discusses the nature of document analysis and
Interview/in-depth interview, approaches to document
analysis/ Interview/in-depth interview, advantages and
disadvantages of document analysis and Interview/in-depth
interview in the areas of qualitative research.

3. 1. Document Analysis
 is a systematic procedure for reviewing or evaluating
documents both in printed and electronic (computer-
based and Internet-transmitted) material.
 document analysis requires that data be examined
and interpreted in order to elicit meaning, gain
understanding, and develop empirical knowledge (Corbin
& Strauss, 2008).

4. Cont…
 It is used in combination with other qualitative research
methods as a means of ‘triangulation’; the combination of
methodologies in the study of the same phenomenon
(Denzin, 1970).
 By triangulating data, the researcher provide a joining
together of evidence that leads to credibility, adds Rapley
(2007).

5. Cont…
 Triangulation helps the researcher protect against the
allegations that a study’s findings are merely an artifact of a
single method, a single source, or a single investigator’s
bias (Fischer , 2006).
 The various procedures of document analysis involve
analyzing and interpreting data generated from the
examination of documents. What is required from a
document is dependent on the epistemological stance of
the researcher.

6. Cont…
 Document analysis is a form of qualitative research in
which documents are interpreted by the
researcher/assessor to give voice and meaning around an
assessment topic.

7. Epistemological Theories of Research under
Document Analysis
 Positivistic approach to document analysis: This
approach looks for supposed factual evidence or
corroboration to affirm or discard a hypothesis. The main
positivistic approaches comprise of confirmation of fact,
content analysis, qualitative document analysis and
historicism as noted by Denzin (2017).

8. Cont…
 Phenomenological approach: This is aimed at understanding the
meaning of the document: in both its surface and underlying
meaning that the document avails. This approach involves
inferencing, which includes interpretative analysis, some forms of
historical research/ historiography (historicism), hermeneutics,
narrative analysis and aesthetics. Consequently, the choice of a
document analysis in qualitative research is dependent on the
epistemological stance of the researcher.

9. Sources of Data in Document Analysis
 When analysing data sources, the three different types of
primary data sources researchers often use (O’Leary, 2014).
These are:
 Public records: the official records of organizations.
 Personal documents: first-person accounts of beliefs,
actions, personal beliefs, or events.
 Physical evidence: Physical evidence, or artefacts like
agendas, flyers, posters, training materials, and
handbooks.

10. Advantages and Disadvantages of Document analysis
 Advantages of Document Analysis:
 Efficient method: . It requires data selection, instead of data
collection. Thus, less time consuming.
 Availability: Many documents are in the public domain, on
internet.
 Cost-effectiveness: Document analysis is less costly than other
research methods.
Stability: Documents are stable. The investigator’s presence
does not alter what is being studied (Merriam, 1988).
Documents, then, are suitable for repeated reviews.

11. Cont…
Exactness: The inclusion of exact names, references, and
details of events makes documents advantageous in the
research process (Yin, 1994).
Coverage: Documents provide broad coverage; they cover
a long span of time, many events, and many settings (Yin,
1994).

12. Disadvantages of document analysis
Insufficient detail: Documents are produced for some
purpose other than research; they are created independent
of a research agenda. Consequently, they usually do not
provide sufficient detail to answer a research question.
Low retrievability: Documentation is sometimes not
retrievable, or retrievability is difficult. As Yin (1994) has
noted, access to documents may be deliberately blocked.
Biased selectivity: An incomplete collection of
documents suggests ‘biased selectivity’ (Yin, 1994).

13. 2. Interview
An interview is described as a two person dialogue that an
interviewer initiates for a specific purpose of getting research-
relevant information (Hoberg, 2001).
It is used as a primary data collection method which provides
direct citations from informants and is a direct approach of
gathering data on participants’ thoughts and experiences
(Trochim, 2006).
The purpose of the research interview is to explore the views,
experiences, beliefs and/or motivations of individuals on
specific matters.

14. Types of Interview
I. Structured Interview:
 Structured interviews enable the interviewer to ask each
participant the same questions in the same way and has a
tendency of too much controlling of the tone and pace at which
it takes place (Mathers et al., 2002).
 Similarly, Denzin and Lincoln (2008) stated that the interview
is structured because the researcher follows a specific set of
questions in a predetermined order with a limited number of
response categories.
 In a structured interview, the interviewer asks a set of standard,
predetermined questions about particular topics, in a specific
order.

15. The advantages of a structured interview
efficient with regards to time,
it limits researcher subjectivity and bias,
the researcher controls the topics and format of the
interview,
easier to code,

16. The disadvantages of a structured interview
 formal in nature (it limits flexibility of both the
interviewer and the interviewee),
 has limited scope (Interviewee cannot go into much detail
with their answers).

17. II. Semi structured Interview
 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 (Britten, 1995).
 Has predetermined questions, but the order can be modified based
upon the interviewer's perception of what seems most appropriate.
 In semi-structured Interview, question wording can be changed and
explanations given; particular questions which seem inappropriate
with a particular interviewee can be omitted, or additional ones
included.

18. Advantages of semi-structured interview
large amounts of details on an interview topic can be
generated,
fairly flexible and sensitive
Encourages conversation,
Personalizes the interview,
Offers more information.

19. Disadvantages of a semi-structured interview
It can't guarantee honesty of participants,
flexibility of interview may lessen trustworthiness of the
data,
open-ended questions are difficult to analyze and difficult
to compare answers (Charles, 2021).
It takes more time,
Interviewers may skip important questions.

20. III. Unstructured Interview
 It is a way to understand the complex behaviour of people
without imposing any a prior categorization(Punch, 1998).
 It does not have a set pattern and questions are not arranged in
advance (Patton, 2002).
 It is too flexible which may distract the direction and the goal of
the interview.
 It is an interview process in which questions asked are not
systematized across interviewees, and the interviewer focuses
on open discussion to evaluate interviewees responses.

21. Advantages of a Unstructured interview
very flexible,
make interviewee feel more comfortable, and
provides more detail about the study.

22. Disadvantages of a unstructured interview
Low generalizability and reliability (weak trustworthiness),
risk of leading questions (multiple questions on a single
question can be raised),
very time consuming, and
high risk of interviewees siding.

23. 3. In-depth Interview
 It is a one-to-one method of data collection that involves
an interviewer and an interviewee discussing specific
topics in depth.
 It may be described as a conversation with a purpose.
 An in-depth interview, however, is not a two-way
dialogue, as only the interviewee shares their story and the
interviewer’s role is to elicit the story (Hesse-Biber & Leavy,
2006).
 it reinforces detailed insight into the research issues from
different perspectives.

24. Steps to conduct Interview
i. Before
 Define objectives
 Selecting types of interview,
 Select respondents, places, respondents selection criteria,
 Decide how to record interview
 Prepare interview questions
ii. During
 Self introduction, purpose, format
 Control tone and language
 Record the interview and end the sessions.

25. Steps to conduct Interview
iii. After
 Make sure the interview was properly recorded
 Organizing interview responses
 Get ready for data analysis

26. Thank you!