Using the telephone for narrative interviewing: a research note

Abstract

Much social science research dictates that the most productive mode for producing narrative data is through face-to-face interviews, with other modes of data production assumed to be ‘second best’. This research note makes a unique contribution to this debate by reflecting on a research project which used telephones to produce participant narratives. It draws on data from both the researcher’s field notes and the participants themselves, who were asked after the narrative interview about their experiences of participating in a seemingly ‘strange’ research encounter. Furthermore, it describes the particular ideological, methodological and practical benefits that using telephones produced and reflects how such findings speak to Stephens’ (2007) recent work concerning telephone interviewing. This research note concludes that the use of telephones should be seriously considered as a preferred alternative to face-to-face interviews when considering how to conduct narrative interviews with particular groups of participants.

Online interviewing with interpreters in humanitarian contexts

“…When compared to in-person interviews in other countries, it was felt that the online format made the adjustment of prearranged interview timing more likely than with in-person interviews. Similar experiences have been documented by other researchers who note that participants may feel less obliged to adhere to pre-agreed timings online than in person (Holt, 2010). The fluidity of the physical interview site and associated power dynamics will continue to evolve as technology and smartphones advance (Botha et al, 2010), and is particularly relevant to conducting interviews in inaccessible locations such as after a humanitarian emergency.…”

Telephonic qualitative research interviews: when to consider them and how to do them

“…Finally, researchers have found that when interviewees were given the option, many chose the telephone instead of a face-to-face interview and were appreciative of being given the choice (Holt, 2010;Sturges and Hanrahan, 2004). Reasons for this preference was that with the telephone, interviewees perceive a greater level of anonymity and privacy than with face-to-face encounters (Carr and Worth, 2001;Holt, 2010;Sturges and Hanrahan, 2004).…”

“…Reasons for this preference was that with the telephone, interviewees perceive a greater level of anonymity and privacy than with face-to-face encounters (Carr and Worth, 2001;Holt, 2010;Sturges and Hanrahan, 2004). The possibility of losing face is reduced and interviewees are more comfortable openly discussing personal opinions (Chapple, 1999;Opdenakker, 2006;Sturges and Hanrahan, 2004).…”

“…Traditionalists criticise this lack of contextual information and argue that the telephone is an inferior data collection instrument not suitable for qualitative research (Gillham, 2005;Hermanowicz, 2002). However, this argument has hardly been subjected to rigorous academic investigation (Holt, 2010;Glogowska, Young, and Lockyer 2011;Sturges and Hanrahan, 2004). In a review of the literature from 1988 to 2007, Novick (2008) found only 8 articles dealing specifically with the use of the telephone in qualitative interviews.…”

“…In other instances, the interviewees were university professors (Stephens, 2007), researchers (Tucker and Parker, 2014), or children (Vogl, 2013). In addition, much of the prior research using telephonic qualitative interviews focuses on the emotional and personal life of interviewees, e.g., the experiences of individuals visiting family members in jail (Sturges and Hanrahan, 2004), students' reasons for dropping out of college/university (Glogowska et al, 2011), mental health and employment, abuse and violence, parenting children with alleged criminal offences, experience of purchasing over-the-counter drugs and medicines from pharmacies, mental health following surgery (Irvine et al, 2012;Trier-Bieniek, 2012;Holt, 2010;Chapple, 1999;Carr and Worth, 2001), or the emotive experiences of employees within their initial 12 months of employment (Cachia and Millward, 2011). None of these studies involve interviews with employees and managers focused on the way they perform their work, which is typical of research in accounting and management.…”