I am looking at ways to strengthen a small masters project which will only use interviews as a data collection method and I will be the only person analyzing the data (using basic thematic coding). I'm acutely aware that the results are likely to be highly subjective (hopefully to my participants, but possibly to me) and wonder if a reflexive journal might help to at least acknowledge this difficulty.
Here's some thoughts
- make sure you detail how you came about the questions you pose to your interviewees
- reflect on the setting of the interview and the ways it is influencing you, your interaction, and the interviewee
- reflexive journaling is important however if you could tell us what your research project is, it may allow us to offer more refined advice on the topic (ex: if your interviews involve accounts of traumatic events, then I believe this approach is imperative for more than just dealing with the intersubjectivity of your research)
Thank you for your reply.
The interviews will be with caregivers, discussing their experiences - there is some potential for upsetting subjects to arise although I would hope not traumatic events (it's impossible to say for sure isn't it?).
My concern is that my own experiences in support work are likely to influence not only my questions but my responses/what I expect my participants' response to be and thought perhaps a journal would help me to identify and be aware of that.
Michelle Fine and Lois Weis have done some excellent work on the topic and will be extremely helpful as you navigate how much reflexivity is too much. http://www.sfu.ca/~palys/FineEtAl-2003-ForWhom.pdf
But to answer your question: Yes. It will help.
You may also want to consider semi-structured open ended interview techniques - one of many benefits to this method is instead of merely asking a question and recording the response, it allows you to have a conversation that may go in unexpected directions illuminating what is important to the caregivers instead of just what you are interested in.
Subjectivity is an unavoidable aspect of all qualitative research, especially in phenomenology. I believe you're on the right track making your own subjectivity explicit. At the same time I think you have to think about how your subjectivity also can help you study to gain high validity. You are the "analyse-software" without your interaction with yourself and subjectivity the result might be less valid. I recommend an article by Giorgi.
Ah very interesting perspective Mats, thank you. I am becoming quite a fan of Giorgi so I appreciate the link.
Also thank you Nathan, the Fine chapter is really interesting, and especially helpful when trying to learn to navigate these various methods in which we are expected to basically use our own judgement (of which I don't feel I have just yet!!).
I agree with Nathan. Let them talk. You listen without any interpretation. Record what they say without "analysis." In your reflective journal, I suggest writing about ways to minimize bias. What did your IRB tell you about potential harm to the participants? JAN V. WHITE, PhD, gerontologist.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Sampling Design
- Sample Size