Introduction/Overview

This two-day course gives participants an understanding of, and experience in using, the skills and techniques involved in conducting qualitative interviews to a high standard. It will be delivered via a combination of taught and practical sessions. The trainers all have extensive experience of conducting in-depth interviews for qualitative studies.

Course objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be:

• able to locate where the in-depth interview sits on the continuum of interview approaches
• able to identify the key features and objectives of in-depth interviews
• familiar with, and able to put into practice, the essential skills of in-depth interviewing: active listening; open questioning and probing
• able to design and use a topic guide
• able to explain the attributes which are required to fulfil the interviewer role
• able to demonstrate awareness of, and competence in, different aspects of managing the interview process
• experienced in conducting in-depth interviews through the practical sessions included in the course

Topics

• the depth interview in social research
• in-depth interviewing skills: active listening, open questioning and probing techniques
• designing and using a topic guide
• interviewer attributes
•  managing the interview process
•  considerations before the interview
•  stages of the interview
•  working with specific populations, dealing with sensitive or difficult topics and situations
•  practical interviewing issues
  
  

Who will benefit?

This course requires some prior knowledge or experience of conducting qualitative research.

You will find the course useful if:

•  you are relatively new to qualitative research, or just starting to conduct in-depth interviews
•  have experience of doing qualitative interviews but lack training
•  you commission or manage qualitative research in central or local government, health or other applied sectors

Course tutor

Mehul Kotecha joined the NatCen Social Research as a Senior Researcher in March 2008. He has led on a number of qualitative studies including evaluations of back to work programmes (e.g. process evaluation of the Support for the Very Long-Term Unemployed Trailblazer programme), research into financial and material circumstances in old age (e.g. exploring the relationship between material deprivation and pensioner poverty and a study which explored older people's attitudes towards the principle of automatic awards of Pension Credit), and research into education and skills (e.g. a study exploring motivations and barriers to part-time post-16 education). Prior to this, Mehul was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, based at London South Bank University – where he also received his doctorate in sociology.

  This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme

Cancellation policy: Full refund if cancelled 21 days or more from the course date.  No refund if cancelled 20 days or fewer from the course date.