Interview, Ethnography, Interview, Ethnography, and Action Researchand Action Research

Types of InterviewsTypes of Interviews

StandardizedStandardized

UnstandardizedUnstandardized

SemistandardizedSemistandardized

DramaturgicalDramaturgical

Techniques for New ResearchersTechniques for New Researchers

Uncomfortable silence (max. 45 sec.)Uncomfortable silence (max. 45 sec.)

EchoingEchoing

Letting people talkLetting people talk

The Ten Commandments of The Ten Commandments of InterviewingInterviewing

Never begin an interview coldNever begin an interview cold

RememberRemember your purposeyour purpose

Present a natural frontPresent a natural front Demonstrate aware hearingDemonstrate aware hearing Think about appearanceThink about appearance Interview in a comfortable placeInterview in a comfortable place Don’t be satisfied with monosyllabic answersDon’t be satisfied with monosyllabic answers Be respectfulBe respectful Practice, practice, practicePractice, practice, practice Be cordial and appreciativeBe cordial and appreciative

Practice InterviewPractice Interview

Purpose: To determine the most Purpose: To determine the most difficult aspects of teachingdifficult aspects of teaching

ReflectionReflection Did your body language change during the Did your body language change during the

exchanges? Did you move closer or further exchanges? Did you move closer or further apart? apart?

Did the level of sound change when you Did the level of sound change when you when from the mundane structured when from the mundane structured questions to more personal ones?questions to more personal ones?

What did it feel like to sit silently and What did it feel like to sit silently and concentrate on listening?concentrate on listening?

What did you do that made your What did you do that made your interviewee feel comfortable and open?interviewee feel comfortable and open?

What suggestions for improvement does What suggestions for improvement does your interviewee have?your interviewee have?

Recording DataRecording Data

Note takingNote taking

Post-interview write-upPost-interview write-up

Tape recordingTape recording

Video recordingVideo recording

Ethnographic StrategiesEthnographic Strategies

Gaining entryGaining entry

GatekeepersGatekeepers

Guides and informantsGuides and informants

Becoming invisibleBecoming invisible

Watching, Listening, and LearningWatching, Listening, and Learning

Taking in the physical settingTaking in the physical setting Developing relationships with Developing relationships with

inhabitantsinhabitants Tracking, observing, eavesdropping, Tracking, observing, eavesdropping,

asking questionsasking questions Locating subgroups and starsLocating subgroups and stars

Data CollectionData Collection

Field notesField notes Strategies for recalling dataStrategies for recalling data

• Record key words and phrases while in the Record key words and phrases while in the fieldfield

• Make notes about the sequence of eventsMake notes about the sequence of events• Limit the time you remain in the settingLimit the time you remain in the setting• Write full notes immediately after exiting the Write full notes immediately after exiting the

fieldfield• Write up your notes before sharing hem with Write up your notes before sharing hem with

othersothers

Analyzing Ethnographic DataAnalyzing Ethnographic Data

Typologies (classifications; groupings)Typologies (classifications; groupings)

MappingMapping

Sociometric AssessmentsSociometric Assessments

Observational records; Frequency of Observational records; Frequency of specific behaviorsspecific behaviors

Action ResearchAction Research

The basics of action researchThe basics of action research• Identifying the research questionIdentifying the research question• Gathering the information to answer the Gathering the information to answer the

questionquestion• Analyzing and interpreting the Analyzing and interpreting the

informationinformation• Sharing the results with the participantsSharing the results with the participants