An introduction to interviewing as a research method

1. Interviews
• Make sure the interview was properly recorded. Make additional
notes if needed. If it was audio or video recorded, transcribe.
• Organize common themes in order to code and analyze the data.
• Strengths: allows respondents to share information in their own
words, which is useful for understanding attitudes & broader social
processes.
• Interviews can be face-to-face, over the phone, through email, etc.
There are pros and cons to each approach; the approach selected will
likely reflect the resources and access available to the interviewer.
• Interviews may be audio or video recorded; handwritten notes
should be taken regardless if audio and/or video consent is granted.
• Create questions & probes that you will ask respondents.
• Questions can be open-ended (e.g. “describe to me”), semi open-
ended, and/or closed-ended (e.g. what year did you start policing?).
• Probing questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how
• There is a science to setting up your questions - avoid leading
questions, negative phrasing, forced choice, etc.
What are officer’s perceptions towards psychological wellness programs?
• Define your study’s objective, choose the appropriate respondents
(e.g. police officers)
• Decide a sampling and recruiting method (e.g. usingTwitter to get
officer participation)
• Gather interested participants and schedule interviews
Code &
analyze
Develop
research
question
Prepare
interview
guide
Execute
interview