Mode effects in qualitative interviews: a comparison of semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews using conversation analysis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Social Policy Research Unit
Abstract
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Organisations
Publications
Irvine A
(2010)
Mode effects in qualitative research interviews
in SRA : methods
Irvine A
(2011)
Duration, Dominance and Depth in Telephone and Face-to-Face Interviews: A Comparative Exploration
in International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Irvine A
(2010)
Using phone interviews
Irvine A
(2018)
Reflection/Commentary on a Past Article: "Duration, Dominance, and Depth in Telephone and Face-to-Face Interviews: A Comparative Exploration" http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/160940691101000302
in International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Irvine A
(2012)
'Am I not answering your questions properly?' Clarification, adequacy and responsiveness in semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews
in Qualitative Research
| Description | We found that, on average, telephone interviews were shorter than face-to- face interviews. This was due to the interviewee speaking for less time, rather than the researcher and interviewee both saying less when talking on the phone. As such, the researcher was relatively more dominant in the interaction in telephone interviews. We found no tendency for the researcher to interrupt or speak over the interviewee more often in telephone interviews and there was no evidence that misunderstandings occurred more frequently over the phone. However, interviewee requests for the researcher to clarify questions were slightly more common in telephone interviews. Paraphrasing of what interviewees had said, or completion of interviewee's sentences by the researcher, were more common in face-to-face interviews. The researcher gave relatively fewer verbal acknowledgements (things like mm hm, right, yeah) during telephone interviews, which is perhaps surprising given the absence of non-verbal cues such as nods or smiles. Telephone interviewees had a greater tendency to check that what they were saying was 'along the right lines', i.e. that they were giving the researcher relevant or sufficient information. The findings of the research suggest that there are some differences in the interaction between people on the telephone and during face-to-face interviews that need to be thought about when researchers decide which method to use for their project. Different behaviours should be used by the interviewer in order to get maximum rapport and discussion from the interviewee. We wanted to raise the profile of the question of the mode of interview so that it is discussed more in the research community. Many of our presentations and workshops had the effect of stimulating this debate and encouraging more thought about these decisions. Although initiated by the question of interview mode effects, it was clear that the research provided a valuable opportunity to reflect more generally on the practice of qualitative research interviewing, from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The workshop that we ran with practitioners agreed that there is much scope for further investigation, not only into mode effects in qualitative interviews but also - and perhaps as a prerequisite - a more systematic, critical and evaluative programme of inquiry into the fundamental practices of qualitative research interviewing. |
| Exploitation Route | Others who are about to undertake qualitative research can use the findings to discuss issues around the mode of interview that they should use. Adapting their technique when on the phone would also be useful - making sure that they give more verbal clues for the research participant, indicating that they are paying attention and are interested. This should mean that they get fuller answers to their questions and enable a good rapport with the interviewee. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Retail |
| URL | http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/1741/ |
| Description | The findings and outputs have been of interest to qualitative researchers across a range of disciplines and career stages. A one day workshop was held on 13 May 2010 to disseminate and discuss the methods, findings and implications of this research. An invited group of 15 experienced research practitioners and leading academics took part in the workshop. The workshop brought together qualitative social researchers engaged in applied policy research, market research and sociological research |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Created and facilitated an expert workshop on the issues in the research (London) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | workshop facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Mode effects in qualitative interviews expert practitioner workshop - A one day workshop was held to disseminate and discuss the methods, findings and implications of an ESRC-funded study that has explored mode effects in qualitative research interviews. The workshop brought together qualitative social researchers engaged in applied policy research, market research and sociological research with academics specialising in the fields of qualitative research methodology and conversation analysis. B Positive feedback during the day itself and in later email correspondence indicated that it had been enjoyable, interesting and thought provoking for participants. Some participants commented that their perceptions about telephone interviews had begun to alter, having taken part in the workshop. There were also comments about the potential for a greater focus on telephone interviewing in research methods training. While this study concentrated on fairly fine-grained interactional difference, the |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| URL | http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/news/mode.html |
| Description | International Conference presentation (Vancouver, Canada) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Paper presented at the 10th Advances in Qualitative Methods Conference - "Mode effects in qualitative interviews: A comparison of semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews using conversation analysis". AQM is the premier international and interdisciplinary conference for the dissemination and discussion of developments in qualitative research methods. All conference papers will be peer reviewed, and we welcome presentations from scholars in a range of disciplines exploring issues and experiences using qualitative inquiry. Not known |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.mapmyevent.com/events/details/24919-10th-advances-in-qualitative-methods-conference |
| Description | Invited seminar to staff, Early Career Researchers and PhD students in the Education department, University of York |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Annie Irvine gave a 2-hour invited seminar as part of the University of York Department of Education's Advanced Research Methods and Skills seminar series. This seminar series targets PhD students and early career researchers in the Department of Education, but is also open to other PhD students and members of staff at the University of York and at White Rose Doctoral Training Centre universities. "Using phone interviews: methodological considerations and a comparison with face-to-face interviews" The seminar was in two parts. The first hour was dedicated to interactive discussion of considerations around the use of the telephone for qualitative research interviews. Students were very engaged in this discussion and made thoughtful contributions. At the end of this section, Annie summarised the discussion and added some reflections. The second hour was a more formal presentation of the methods and findings of the ESRC-funded 'mode effects' study, with time for questions and answers at the end. Not known |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Presentation at an expert practitioner workshop (Lancaster) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Presented a paper titled 'Mode effects in qualitative interviews : a comparison of semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews using conversation analysis' at workshop on Analysing the Language of Interviews Mode effects in qualitative interviews expert practitioner workshop Workshop, Lancaster University, 30 October 2009. Not known |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/faculty/event/3001/ |
| Description | Presentation to an international conference, EUROQUAL (London) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a paper "Mode effects in qualitative interviews : a comparison of semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews using conversation analysis" to the International Perspectives on Qualitative Research in the Social Sciences (EUROQUAL) Conference, Institute of Civil Engineers, London, 3-6 May 2010. This conference aims to explore the collection and analysis of increasingly complex data and theory-building in qualitative social science research. Invited plenary speakers will map out some of the key issues facing researchers today. Speakers from a wide range of disciplines will discuss new challenges and innovative methodologies which are being developed in the context of increasing complexity. Not known |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| URL | http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/euroqual/mayconf2010.html |
| Description | Sociology Conference (Glasgow) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | paper presented at the British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2010 - Inequalities & Social Justice 7-9 April 2010, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK Not known |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| URL | http://www.britsoc.co.uk/events/annual-conference-archives.aspx |