WANG Yiwen

Robert G. Burgess explores the significance of conversation in field research, drawing

upon the insights of early field researchers and sociologists in his article,. He
emphasizes the value of talking to individuals to understand their perspectives and
collect ethnographic data, as highlighted by Malinowski and Palmer. While
contemporary social research textbooks often focus on structured interviews with
predetermined schedules and questions, Burgess suggests that unstructured interviews
offer a more flexible and natural approach. Burgess asserts that unstructured
interviews should not be devoid of structure entirely. Instead, he suggests that
researchers establish a framework within which the conversation can unfold.
Although the interview may appear spontaneous, the researcher maintains control,
guiding the conversation to remain relevant to the research problem. Non-verbal cues,
such as gestures and facial expressions, are also essential in capturing valuable data
during these interviews. The author also emphasizes that researchers should be
attentive listeners and observers, attuned to emerging data and able to formulate
relevant questions accordingly.

Marc-Adélard Tremblay explores the use of the key informant technique in

anthropological fieldwork, focusing on its planning, implementation, and data
gathering. The article presents a case study of using key informants to identify the
poorest and wealthiest communities in a county. The article defines the key informant
technique as a method of gathering qualitative and descriptive data that are
challenging to obtain through structured techniques like questionnaires. The article
emphasizes the importance of feedback in refining the selection of informants and the
content of interviews. It also discusses the structured nature of the interviews, where
the researcher provides guidance while allowing informants the freedom to express
themselves. The article concludes by highlighting the advantages of the key informant
technique in gathering comprehensive and in-depth data for research purposes.

Interviewing in Field Research discusses the use of interviewing as a research method

in field research. The author distinguishes between non-directive interviews,
commonly used in therapy, and research interviews, which are structured to address
specific research problems. While non-directive interviews allow informants to freely
express themselves, research interviews require a balance between allowing
informants to discuss their interests and covering topics relevant to the researcher.
The article emphasizes the importance of active listening, showing interest, and
refraining from passing moral judgments or giving advice during research interviews.
Interruptions should be kept to a minimum, although some informants may require
graceful interruptions to steer the conversation effectively. The level of directiveness
in an interview can be adjusted based on the interviewing situation and research goals.
The article also highlights the need for a balance between allowing informants to
freely express themselves and ensuring that important research topics are covered.
Overall, it provides valuable insights and guidance on conducting effective research
interviews in the field.