Qualitative interview procedures

How are you going to carry out the qualitative portion of your research study? What specific tools and activities will you undertake? This example is a template for writing the research procedures for interviews. Note that there is information in italics and then there is an example.

You can use this as a model for your interview procedures and protocol, but be aware that APA style is double- spaced and must be double-spaced in the final research proposal.

Include a summary of the reasons for using this particular method for this study.

I plan to conduct interviews with teachers who received the training one year after roll-out. The purpose of the interviews is to collect information on how the training was, or was not, enacted, adopted, resisted, and/or adapted in practice. The interviews will explore the expected and unexpected impacts of the training and will explicitly aim to discuss perceptions of relevance as well as capture contextual issues that may have shaped interaction with, uptake of and impact of the intervention. Interviews are an appropriate method to understand these issues because they enable narratives of individuals to be elicited so that I can explore what was meaningful to individuals who were part of the training.

Sample Selection

Who will be the interviewees? How many participants will you interview? How will you select your participants (e.g. randomly, snowball, convenience, purposive sampling) and from where? What is the rationale for this sampling strategy? Refer to your research methods books for details on how to select participants for qualitative research/interviews.

Six teachers who participated in the training will be selected to participate by convenience sampling. (Provide more information about participants if relevant.)

Give details of what information will be given to participants prior to participation. It is important to give the participant time to think about the study and what participation will mean for the individual. Consent is therefore sometimes requested prior to the date of the event, but most often at the time of the interview.

Note: If you are a university student and intend to publish the findings or present them at a conference, etc., you will need to work with the Institutional Review Board and complete that process of approval prior to beginning a study.

I will seek informed consent from potential study participants for participation in the interviews. The informed consent discussion will be conducted with potential participants at a convenient location and in a language that the participant is most comfortable with, using a translator if necessary. After providing information answering any queries, the participant will be asked if they can give their written consent using the provided consent form.

Conducting the Interviews

Describe the characteristics of the location to be sought by the interviewer for the interview to take place, such as a private place outside of the school, and what equipment and materials will be needed.

Describe the process of revision of information and gaining consent, if relevant, at the start of the interview. Make sure to include description of any incentives to be provided for participants.

Provide details of how interviews will be recorded, for example note taking or tape recording. Justify the use of the method(s) chosen.

State that the interview questions and protocol are found as an appendix. (Since your survey will be Appendix A, the protocol and interview questions will probably be Appendix B.)

The interviews will take place in a private conference room in the school library. Information about the objective of the interview and overall study will be provided to each participant at the commencement of each session. Confidentiality and anonymity will be explained. Each participant will be asked if s/he consents to be interviewed and for the interview to be recorded using a digital tape recorder. The participant will be informed that no incentive will be provided other than refreshments. During each interview, the question guide will be followed. A tape recording will be made of the interview and the investigator will make notes of the responses and non-verbal behavior during the interview as well as notes about the setting and atmosphere of the interview. The protocol and interview questions can be found in Appendix B.

Data Analysis

Describe methods transcribing interview(s) and when this will be done.

Provide details of how you will analyze the data. (Your textbook is a great resource, but there are countless qualitative methods books you are free to use.) Be sure to cite correctly and include the citations on your Reference page.

On completion of the interview, I will complete a transcription. I will assign a number to each typed transcription and store them as both Word files and audio files.

I will use grounded theory as the methodology for the analysis of the data and for generating of the case study (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Analysis will begin with identifying categories and concepts that emerge from the text, which in this case will be (a) field notes; (b) transcriptions of interviews; and/or (c) additional documents that the participants may provide. Second, the concepts will be linked to form theories (Bernard, 2006).

The protocol for this inductive analysis is as follows: (a) scan the text; (b) identify possible themes; (c) compare the data among the many texts; (d) consider the various ways the themes may be interrelated; (e) build theoretical models based on the themes and data supporting them; (f) consider the role that negative cases play in comparison to the themes and data; (g) present the theories using the data—both summarized and in direct quotes—to elucidate the theory (Bernard, 2006).

Appendix B

This is a separate page that appears at the end of your research study narrative. It includes the “protocol” you will read to participants, along with the interview questions you intend to ask. Here is an example from a recent student’s research proposal:

Qualitative Study on Latino Students Who Participate in

Co-curricular Activities at Pasadena City College

Thank you for taking this time to participate in this interview. I would like to take some time to go over the procedures for the interview. Please answer honestly and to the best of your ability. I would like to acknowledge that there is no right or wrong answer. All responses will be recorded using an audio recorder, as well as thorough note taking. Your responses, as well as your name or other identifiable information will remain confidential. If you are not comfortable during any portion of this interview you may withdraw at any time.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask at this time, as we are now about to proceed.

Interview Questions

1. How are you socially and/or academically involved on campus at Pasadena City College?

2. Please describe your college experience thus far before going on to a university. How do feel about your academic progress while being involved in co-curricular activities? How would you describe yourself socially?

3. Please explain your reasons for participating in any co-curricular activities whether it is with your peers or faculty. How did you get involved in co-curricular activities?

This document is adapted from Chandler, C. I. R. & Reynolds, J. (2013). ACT consortium guidance: Qualitative methods protocol template with example tools and SOPs. London, England: London School of Hygiene and Topical Medicine.