Meg Wiggins | Four two-hour sessions | Spring: Wednesday 14:00 - 16:00 (UK time) January 25 + February 1, 8, 15 (Room: W3.08 - third floor of the IOE)

NB: This course accrues 3 training points.

Course description:

This is a practical course for researchers interested in learning about and improving their skills in qualitative interviewing. The course will cover the different kinds of interviews that qualitative researchers employ, as well as the general skills and techniques, which will help you to collect in-depth data.

Through a series of workshops, we will discuss the entire process from choosing an interview style, through to creating a topic guide, conducting the interview, ethical considerations and transcription. Along with readings and discussions, course participants will take part in hands-on exercises designed to improve their skills in conducting interviews.

Suggested pre-reading:

• Fielding NG (1995) ‘Qualitative Interviewing’ in Gilbert N (ed) Researching Social Life, London: Sage
• Legard R, Keegan J, Ward K (2003) ‘In-depth Interviews’ in Ritchie J and Lewis J (Eds) Qualitative Research Practice, London: Sage
• Oakley A (1981) ‘Interviewing Women: a contradiction in terms’, in Roberts H (ed) Doing Feminist Research, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul
• Patton MQ (1987) How to use qualitative methods in evaluation, London: Sage (Esp chapter 5 ‘Depth Interviewing’)