Collecting Qualitative Data

Collecting Qualitative Data

1. 5.BEING A CAREFUL OBSERVER

   • What to observe?
     • 1. The physical setting
     • 2. The participants
     • 3. Activities and interactions
     • 4. Conversation
     • 5. Subtle factors
     • 6.Your own behavior
   • Relationship between observer and observed
     • 1. Complete participant
       • The researcher is a member of the group being studied
     • 2. Participant as observer
       • The observer's activities which are known by the group are subordinate to the researcher's role as a participant
     • 3. Observer as participant
       • The researcher's activities are known to the group; participation is secondary to the role of information gatherer
     • 4. Complete observer
       • The researcher is either hidden from the group or in a completely public setting
   • Recording observations
     • Field notes
       • *Verbal descriptions of the setting, the people, the activities.
       • *Direct quatations or at least the substance of what people said
       • Observer's comments
     • Fieldwork journal
       • Instrospective record of the anthropologist's experience in the field. It includes his or her ideas, fears, mistakes, confusion, and reactions to the experience can include thoughts about the methodology itself.

2. 4.CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE INTERVIEWS

   • Interview Data
     • *Person to person encounter or group formats
       • *Conversation with a purpose
         • *Is necessary when we cannot observe behavior, feelings , or how people interpret the world around them
   • Types of Interviews
     • *Structured interview
       • *Semistructured interview
         • *Unstructured interviews
           • There is not determined set of questions
         • All of the questions are more flexible worded. The interview is a mix of more and less structured questions
       • oral form of the written survey. Predetermined questions
   • Asking good questions
     • *Hypothetical question
       • *Devil´s advocate question
         • *Ideal position questions
           • *Interpretive questions
             • Advances tentative interpretation of what the respondent has been saying and asks for a reaction
           • Asks the respondent to describe an ideal situation
         • Challenges the respondent to consider an opposing view
       • Asks what the respondent might do or what it might be in a particular situation
     • Questions to avoid
       • *Multiple questions
       • *Leading questions
       • *yes or no questions
     • Probes
       • questions or comments that follow up something already asked
   • Interviewer and respondent interaction
     • *The personality and skill of the interviewer
     • *The attitudes and orientation of the interviewee
     • *The definition of both of the situation
   • Recording and evaluating interview data
     • *Tape record
     • *Videotaped
     • *Taking notes
     • *Interview log