I am beginning a Qualitative research project on Oncogeriatric Services and the different models and factors that impact the delivery of care. I would like to know if I can use interviews as well as written surveys (with free text boxes) to collect my data please. If so would there be any particular differences in regards to analysis.
Yes, whether the respondents write their open-ended responses or if you interview them and need to transcribe their responses is essentially the same thing in my personal opinion.
However, one is able to generally extract great depth of information in interviews since one is able to probe for further information and insight to particular responses that are give by the participants.
The analysis (usually conducted via software such as ATLAS.ti) would be the same, i.e. to identify particular themes and categories to answer your research questions/objectives.
As your study is about oncogeriatric services, what impact would your data collection method have on your potential participants? There are pros and cons with all methods but I would argue it's about the right method for answering your research question and that includes being the right method(s) for your participants.
Relying on verbal interviews excludes those who may find this difficult for a variety of reasons, and many people find it easier to express themselves through writing. However, the opposite can also be true. With delivery of care being your focus, is this a subject best explored through sensitive questioning by a skilled interviewer or through allowing participants the freedom to articulate their experiences and feelings in writing? Or of course, utilising the strengths of both methods? I think this logic also applies to analysis, and goes back to your methodological position as to whether you use the same or different approaches.
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