Interview Method Journal Entry
For this week’s Journal, consider the following questions and capture your own brainstorming responses to them in a text Journal entry.
- Progress: When is it appropriate to use in-depth interviews?
- Problems: What are the features, problems, and pitfalls of interviewing?
- Plans:
- How will you organize your interview?
- How will you incorporate the concepts from your theory/model into your interview guide?
- What other resources or support will you need to develop a good data collection tool?
- Interview Method Journal Entry
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When is it appropriate to use in-depth interviews?,
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What are the key features of interviews?,
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What problems or pitfalls can occur during interviews?,
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How will you organize your interview process?,
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How will you connect your theory/model to the interview guide?
General Journal Response:
Progress – When to Use In-Depth Interviews:
In-depth interviews are most appropriate when I want to explore participants’ thoughts, feelings, and experiences in rich detail. They are ideal for understanding complex or sensitive topics, such as personal identity, cultural values, or lived experiences that cannot be easily quantified. In my case, I would use in-depth interviews when studying psychological responses to trauma, social stigma, or decision-making processes—especially when context and emotion matter.
Problems – Features, Problems, and Pitfalls of Interviewing:
Key Features:
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Open-ended questions
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One-on-one conversation
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Flexibility to probe deeper
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Focus on the participant’s perspective
Common Problems/Pitfalls:
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Interviewer bias influencing questions or interpretation
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Participants giving socially desirable responses
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Poorly structured or unclear questions
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Lack of rapport or trust reducing the quality of responses
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Overwhelming data volume making analysis difficult
Interview Method Journal Entry
To mitigate these issues, I would ensure neutrality in tone, build trust before beginning, and pilot my questions in advance.
Plans – Organizing the Interview:
To organize the interview, I would:
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Develop a clear purpose and define my research question.
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Draft a semi-structured interview guide with 6–10 core questions aligned with my topic.
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Start with easier, warm-up questions and move into more reflective or sensitive areas.
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Practice the flow to ensure it feels natural and avoids abrupt transitions.
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Schedule interviews in quiet, comfortable settings with audio recording (with consent).
Plans – Incorporating Theory/Model:
If I’m using a theory like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, I’ll structure my questions to explore how participants prioritize and meet their psychological and safety needs. I would map key theoretical concepts to real-world examples and behaviors I expect to uncover in the interviews. This helps ensure my questions are both relevant and grounded in my conceptual framework.
Plans – Additional Resources/Support Needed:
To develop a strong interview tool, I’ll need:
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Example interview guides from similar studies
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Feedback from peers or mentors
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Access to literature on best practices in qualitative interviewing
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Possibly training or reading on active listening and nonverbal communication skills
Interview Method Journal Entry