Semi-structured interviews/Good and bad listening/handout
From RECOUP
1. Good listening is vital at ALL stages of an interview:
Research Ethics:
- good manners & showing respect for interviewee (rather then emphasising status differences, putting people down)
Research practicalities & data quality:
- interviewees will be more relaxed if they see you are interested in what they say
- researcher will ask more appropriate prompts, pick up inconsistencies etc
2. Starting the interview:
- Researcher makes introductions, explains research, seeks informed consent
- Researcher MUST also listen and respond to interviewee's questions/concerns
3. During the interview:
| BAD LISTENING
(that may make person stop talking) | GOOD LISTENING
(that encourages person to talk) |
| Interrupting | Giving space for long answers, making encouraging noises |
| Arguing when you disagree or feel challenged | Not answering back when person is provocative but accepting what they say |
| Being judgemental (e.g. criticising or expressing disdain for village habits etc) | Not making verbal judgements on what people tell you |
| Correcting 'wrong' answers | Recording answers even if you think they are incorrect |
| Giving advice (unless asked for) | Responding to questions and providing advice (if asked) at end of interview |
| Jumping to conclusions & putting words into people's mouths | Continuing to listen even if you don't understand (ask for clarification during break in conversation) |
| Repeating questions already answered | Remembering what you have asked AND what people have said |
| Probing when interviewee is signalling unwillingness to go into detail | Probing that indicates engagement with what person is saying & encourages person to explain in more detail |
| Putting people down by emphasising social distance between you & interviewee | Downplaying status differences verbally as well as through body language |
| Body language that exposes your own values/judgements (facial & hand gestures) | Body language that does not appear judgemental, or expose your negative judgement |
| Body language that signals boredom (yawning, fiddling, eyes wandering, checking your watch) | Body language that signals interest (focus on interviewee, eye contact, nodding, smiling) |
3. Ending the interview
- Researcher should not appear in hurry to get away
- Researcher should allow space to answer questions (from interviewees, bystanders, etc.)
