Semi-structured_interviews/Good_and_bad_listening/handout

From OER in Education

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.)

Cc-by-nc-sa-narrow.png Singal, N., and Jeffery, R. (2008). Qualitative Research Skills Workshop: A Facilitator's Reference Manual, http://oer.educ.cam.ac.uk/wiki/RECOUP, Cambridge: RECOUP (Research Consortium on Educational Outcomes and Poverty, http://recoup.educ.cam.ac.uk/). CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. (original page)