Skype Session Module 2 Focus Friday 15 Nov

Module Two Focus - What to do if you can't interview 

I had the pleasure of speaking to Helen about my inquiry proposal and how it was all going. 

I plan on carrying out one-on-one interviews, leading a focus group discussion and researching literature for my data collection. And here are some of the things I was told to keep in mind when going through and preparing for the process.

Interviews:

1. Think about the value of the interview and the data generated. Will it add valuable insight for your inquiry?
2.  As the researcher, you are inviting participants to share their stories and experiences with you and therefore the questions asked must reflect this.
3.  Always keep in mind - what do you want to gain from inquiry? This will help generate questions that are relevant and will produce data that will be useful for analysis.

Focus Group Discussion:

Focus groups often allow for people to 'come out of their shell' more and feel comfortable to talk openly and can add or take point from what other people say as it is not just them in a one-on-one environment. 

1. You need to think about your role as the researcher:

• You need to lead the group without allowing any personal bias or opinions influence the way in which the participants will answer.
• You need to listen to what is being said - not just hear what you want to hear and ignore the rest.
• You need to not allow dominant personalities to take over the discussion and for others to not have a chance to add to the discussion.  
• You need to ensure the discussion stays on course and within the context of the inquiry
• Having semi-structured questions will allow for discussion to flow naturally whilst still staying within the context

Literature:

Using previous experiences and own knowledge as well as literature from other theorists will allow for a more holistic view and for different points of opinion. It is good to compare own findings with data findings and literature findings. 

The main point that Helen always wanted me to go back to was: What do I want to gain from my inquiry? This will help everything stay on track and within context.