Interviewing (Qualitative)

Date:

07/05/2015

Organised by:

Social Research Association

Presenter:

Liz Spencer

Level:

Entry (no or almost no prior knowledge)

Contact:

Lindsay Adams, Tel: 0207 998 0304; email: lindsay.adams@the-sra.org.uk

Map:

View in Google Maps  (EH1 3BH)

Venue:

Apex Hotel Waterloo Place, Edinburgh,

Description:

As a qualitative method, interviewing can generate wonderfully rich and nuanced data, but it requires considerable social, listening and questioning skills. This one-day course is designed to help participants become aware of and practise some of the techniques involved. As well as a grounding in the principles of semi-structured and in-depth interviewing, participants will gain hands-on experience of conducting interviews, acting as an interviewee, and giving and receiving detailed feedback. Some knowledge of qualitative research or attendance on the design day is advisable.

During the course we will cover:

  • theories of interviewing
  • when to use this method
  • different kinds of interview and degrees of structure
  • questioning and probing skills (how to criticise and improve on these)
  • practical issues involved in setting up interviews
  • interviewing different kinds of participant
  • recording and transcription

Course tutor

Liz Spencer is a Sociologist and an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences who has specialised in qualitative methods since 1973. She has held research posts at a number of British universities, including the London School of Economics, The London Graduate School of Business Studies, and the University of Essex, and was a Research Director at the National Centre for Social Research. She teaches a range of courses for the Social Research Association and for the Universities of Hong Kong and Essex, and has been a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Higher Studies in Vienna.

Currently Liz is a Research Associate of the Institute for Social and Economic Research as well as an independent research consultant. Her recent methodological publications include chapters in Qualitative Research Practice and a report for the Cabinet Office on judging the quality of qualitative research and evaluation. Together with Jane Ritchie, she pioneered ‘Framework’, a matrix-based approach to data management and display.

Cost:

£260 but SRA members pay £195

Website and registration:

Region:

Scotland

Keywords:

Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, In-depth Interviewing , Semi-Structured Interviewing

Related publications and presentations:

Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis

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