NARRATIVE INTERVIEWS

MCC213 Communication Research Week 6 Qualitative Research One: Research Interviewing

Presented by Damian Cheong 32441606@student.murdoch.edu.au

Types of Genres of Qualitative Research Interviews

Ethnographic Conversations Depth Interviews Group Interviews or Focus Groups Discussions Narrative Interviews Postmodern interviews

Ethnographic Conversations
Is the process of observation by the interviewer to allow the interviewee to talk at great length about specific topics, informal discussions, casual conversations

Depth Interviews
Follows an unstructured or can be semi-structured plan, usually strategize to ask about complex thoughts or to explore certain situations in an open and flexible way Usually lasts between 30 minutes and several hours (Eg. Tell me about OR What was it like going through...

Group Interviews (Focus Groups)

Allows researcher to gather data from several respondents or subjects concurrently, the discussion becomes the unit of analysis as opposed to the individual due to the group dynamics, usually structured format

Postmodern Interviews
Are unstructured, allows researchers to conduct a wide study and collect diverse views and perspectives as much as possible, while imposing minimal influence on the groups of people or victims Civic or public journalism uses this method of interviewing, allowed complete freedom to air candid opinions

Narrative = A story
A narrative interview seek to collect stories on a given topic of interest to the researcher. Often used in biographical studies and conducted as oral histories or life histories. Interviews are often used for documentaries on TV & films as well as written biographies or biography features Qualitative research approach and usually in a semi-structured or unstructured format.

Narrative Interviews
Difference between life histories and oral histories
LIFE HISTORY
Examines the entire chronological life history of a person

ORAL HISTORY
Examines a specific aspect or period of in life of a person or group of people

Life history is about being interested in the Oral historians understand the topic and individual first, then along the way gather use the individual to find the stories of that information to possibly flush out the stories topic. of the cultural topics, giving them a personal context. Is autobiographical, account by an http://www.loc. individual of his life that is recorded for gov/folklife/familyfolklife/oralhistory.html another person who edits and presents the account

Narrative Interviews
Difference between life histories and oral histories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBdYAtf03Z8

Interviews
ADVANTAGES
Flexible, high response rate

DISADVANTAGES
Costly and time-consuming

Can ask complex and sensitive questions, can observe people answering

Reliant on interviewers skills and techniques

Can instantly correct misunderstandings, user-friendly, have control over location and time, order of questions

Require attendance, not very convenient, cannot offer annoymity hence results may be skewed & be less effective on sensitive issues

References List
Case Stories. 2013. Narrative Interviews - helping people to tell their stories. http://www.case-stories.org/narrative-interviews-1/ Valerie Raleigh Yow. 2005. Recording Oral History: A Guide for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Rowman Altamira.

Thank you for your kind attention.