The Use of Videoconferencing as a Medium for the Qualitative Interview

Abstract

Qualitative data collection, especially conducting in-person interviews, presents challenges for researchers whose participants are geographically dispersed. Often alternative means of interviewing using communication technology are necessary. This was true for this focused ethnographic research exploring the experiences of participants who were connected to a particular cultural group by virtue of their similar experience but who were not located in the same geographical area. The purpose of this paper is to present the experience of using videoconferencing technology to collect experiential data from undergraduate nursing students and preceptors who were dispersed over a 640,000 square kilometer area in western and northern Canada during a rural hospital-based preceptorship. Recommendations for using videoconferencing as a medium for conducting in-depth qualitative interviews include using a high-bandwidth connection such as SuperNet or Web conferencing, and evaluating whether the type of information sought is likely to be shared in other than in-person face-to-face situations.

Counselor Education Doctoral Students' Experiences With Multiple Roles and Relationships

“…A final limitation was the use of the videoconferencing software to conduct the interview processes. Videoconferencing is supported in the literature as a valuable medium to conduct in-depth interviews with geologically dispersed participants due to reduced costs and the general similarities to face-to-face, in-person interviews (Sedgwick & Spiers, 2009). Despite the support for videoconferencing technologies, disadvantages do exist, such as inability to perceive nuances of participants' body language, potential for technological difficulties, and lack of physical proximity that is sometimes helpful when building rapport with participants during the interview process.…”

“…I conducted all interviews through the videoconferencing software (e.g., Skype, Google Hangout, and Face Time). Recent literature supported the use of videoconferencing software by researchers when conducting interviews, and the similarities of these interviews to in-person interviews have been noted (Beck, 2005;Dicicco-Bloom & Crabtree, 2006;Richardson, Frueh, Grubaugh, Egede, & Elhai, 2009;Sedgwick & Spiers, 2009;Winzenburg, 2012). I maintained confidentiality by conducting interviews in a private room where only I was privy to participants' responses.…”

“…The literature that supported the use of videoconferencing technology in data collection was largely found in health care research studies, and further used as a cost-saving strategy for interviewing applicants for potential employment (Beck, 2005;Dicicco-Bloom & Crabtree, 2006;Richardson, Frueh, Grubaugh, Egede, & Elhai, 2009;Sedgwick & Spiers, 2009;Winzenburg, 2012). Though there are important ethical considerations, I strongly advocate for the continued use of videoconferencing technology as a means of data collection for future qualitative and mixed-methods research studies in counselor education.…”

“…E-mail questionnaires, online chat rooms and focus groups, and videoconferencing are utilized by researchers to provide "space" for participants to share their experiences related to the proposed research topic (Beck, 2005;Kenny, 2004;Schneider et al, 2002;Sedgwick & Spiers, 2009;van Eeden-Moorefield et al, 2008). In the following sub-sections, I…”

Duration, Dominance and Depth in Telephone and Face-to-Face Interviews: A Comparative Exploration

“…Novick (2008) also makes this observation rather eloquently: "It seems that telephone interviews neither have the endorsement enjoyed by face-to-face interviews, which are seen as the gold standard, nor the aura of excitement generated by Internet interviews" (p.397). As the use of video-phone technology (such as Skype) increases, a further set of methodological questions presents itself in the way that such interactions compare to the existing suite of possibilities (Sedgwick & Spiers, 2009). …”