PLANNING DATA

COLLECTION
INTERVIEW
Conducted with individuals (in-depth) or
with groups (focus group discussion).
May be done face-to-face, through
telephone, mail or video conferencing.
May be structured, semi-structured, and
unstructured.
Used to find out about their experiences,
the meaning they associate with these and
their perspectives.
OBSERVATION
Involves fieldwork and going to the research site to
observe the activities, social interactions, and
behavior of individuals in the identified settings.
Field Notes are used to record observations in a
semi-structured or structured manner.
Researcher may decide to simply observe or decide
to participate in it.
Used to get useful insights on people’s behavior and
interactions in their natural setting.
DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
Involves looking into at available
documents.
They come from public sources
such as newspapers, online social
fora, minutes of meetings, and
official reports or private ones
like journals, diaries, emails and
letters.
TRIANGULATION
Refers to using multiple sources of information or methods to
ensure that you have a complete picture of the phenomenon
under study.

(a) method triangulation, (b) investigator triangulation, (c) theory
triangulation, and (d) data source triangulation
Allows you to check and recheck the data you have gathered
from one method to another to ensure that they are reflective of
the actual phenomenon.
DEVELOPING INSTRUMENTS
INSTRUMENTS
Known as data collection
instruments or data gathering
instruments.
Refers to tools used to guide your
data collection.
In qualitative research, the
foremost instrument is the
researcher himself or herself.
COLLECTING DATA
MINDSET OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCHER

Before entering the field, it is recommended

that you are aware of the possible mindset:
Be reflective and “explicit”.
Be prepared for ambiguity.
Practice sensitivity.
Communicate. Build rapport, ask good
questions, listen.
STAGES OF FIELDWORK

Three stages:
Entry Stage
Data Gathering Stage
Closing Stage
FIRST: ENTRY STAGE
Think about how you want
people in your research
setting to relate with you
and how you want them to
see you.
There are no prescribed
rules on how to enter the
research setting.
SECOND : DATA GATHERING STAGE
Building relationships with key
informants.
Involve navigating through social
relationships and political choices.
After spending time with your research
participants in the research setting and
interviewing them, you may find yourself
empathizing with their feelings and
thoughts.
THIRD: CLOSING STAGE
After the researcher has spent time
collecting data and gathering new
information, expect that there will be a
shift in your focus from data collection to
data analysis little by little.
As you begin to conceptualize the
patterns and themes in your data, the
researcher begins the process of verifying
the data.
CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS
CONSIDERATIONS
Take note of important considerations in arranging the
interview
Know what to say and do at the beginning of the interview
Keep the interview going by using probes.
Listen during the interview and interact with the interviewee.
Record the interview.
BEGINNING INTERVIEW
Know who you need to interview.
Consider how much time is needed for
the interview and make an appointment
with your research participants at a
convenient time.
Begin interview with several courtesies.
May include providing an explanation
of the purpose of the interview.
BEGINNING INTERVIEW
Provide some additional orientation to your
research participants by assuring them that
you want to know their observations and
thoughts about the phenomenon
Assure participants of the anonymity and
confidentiality of the information. Ask
permission if using recorder or camera.
Secure a consent form and agreement to
participate.
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW
Think from the start that the interview has
something to contribute to your understanding
of the research topic.
Assume a position of neutrality.
Ask good questions.
Emphasize the basic rule “let your informant or
respondent lead.”
Learn to probe. Probing is essential technique to
help your research participants share more
information.
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

Examples of probes:
Detail oriented probe – entail
asking research participants to
provide details on an aspect they
have shared to get a complete
picture of it. Consider asking Wh
and H questions.
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW
Clarification probe – request
participant to expound on what they
meant by their previous statement.

Effective interview feels like a two-

way exchange between the
interviewee and the interviewer. Your
participants should not feel that they
are being interrogated.
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW
Elaboration Probes – provide cues to
research participants to continue with
their account and to keep talking.
Silent Probes – remaining silent and
waiting for a response from the
participant.
Echo Probes – repeating what the
research participant last said.
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

Uh-huh Probes – encourage

participant to continue and
elaborate more by simply saying
“uh-huh”, “yes”, “I see”. Or by
gently nodding.
Tell me more probes – encourages
further elaboration.