Qualitative and quantitative interviews | A PhD student guide on what they are & how they differ

Summary

In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Yardley explains the key differences between qualitative and quantitative interviews in research. While quantitative interviews are rigid, standardized, and focused on replicability, qualitative interviews are flexible, exploratory, and centered around building rapport with the interviewee. Dr. Yardley highlights that qualitative interviews allow for dynamic conversations, follow-up questions, and multiple interactions to gain deeper insights, whereas quantitative interviews aim to gather data for analysis in a fixed, one-time session. The essence of qualitative interviews lies in the relationship and trust built between the researcher and interviewee to understand subjective meanings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Qualitative interviews are flexible and exploratory, aiming to understand subjective experiences rather than focusing on specific answers.
• 😀 Quantitative interviews are rigid, standardized, and rely on fixed questions with little room for deviation or follow-up questions.
• 😀 In quantitative interviews, reliability is key, with a focus on replicability, meaning any researcher should be able to conduct the same interview with consistent results.
• 😀 The interviewer in a quantitative interview is the expert, while the interviewee's role is limited to answering preset questions.
• 😀 Qualitative interviews allow the interviewee to guide the conversation, potentially discussing topics beyond the initial questions.
• 😀 Building rapport and trust with the interviewee is crucial in qualitative interviews to ensure authentic and in-depth responses.
• 😀 Qualitative interviews may involve multiple sessions to develop a deeper understanding and a stronger relationship with the interviewee.
• 😀 The dynamic between interviewer and interviewee in qualitative interviews is central, with the interviewer often adapting to the flow of the conversation.
• 😀 Quantitative interviews are typically a one-off event, while qualitative interviews can involve multiple interviews over time.
• 😀 The process of qualitative interviewing is less about getting immediate answers and more about fostering exploration and understanding of the interviewee's perspective.
• 😀 In qualitative interviews, the focus is on the interviewee’s expertise and experience, not the interviewer’s ability to control the conversation.

Q & A

What is the main difference between qualitative and quantitative interviews?

The main difference is that quantitative interviews are rigid and structured, aiming to gather standardized answers for analysis, while qualitative interviews are more flexible, focusing on exploring deeper insights through a dynamic, conversational approach.

What is the role of the researcher in a quantitative interview?

In a quantitative interview, the researcher is the expert who controls the interview process by asking a set of predetermined questions in a standardized manner. The researcher's role is to ensure that the interview remains consistent across different subjects.

How do quantitative interviewers handle responses that deviate from the set questions?

Quantitative interviewers will steer the interviewee back to the prescribed questions and may disregard any responses that don't relate to the pre-set topics.

Why is reliability important in quantitative interviews?

Reliability in quantitative interviews is crucial because it ensures that the process can be replicated by any researcher, producing consistent and comparable results.

How do qualitative interviews differ in terms of structure compared to quantitative interviews?

Qualitative interviews have a flexible structure. Interviewers may ask questions in a different order, introduce follow-up questions, or omit some questions based on the conversation flow, which contrasts with the rigid structure of quantitative interviews.

In qualitative interviews, who is considered the expert: the interviewer or the interviewee?

In qualitative interviews, the interviewee is considered the expert. The interviewer is there to guide the conversation and explore the interviewee's experiences and insights.

What is the significance of building rapport in qualitative interviews?

Building rapport is essential in qualitative interviews as it fosters trust, enabling the interviewee to provide authentic and meaningful responses, which is crucial for understanding their subjective experiences.

How do qualitative interviews differ in terms of data collection compared to quantitative interviews?

Qualitative interviews may involve a series of interviews, allowing for a relationship to develop between the interviewer and interviewee. This contrasts with quantitative interviews, which are typically a one-off interaction aimed at collecting all necessary data in a single session.

What is the primary aim of qualitative interviews?

The primary aim of qualitative interviews is to explore topics in-depth and gain a deep understanding of the interviewee’s perspective, rather than seeking standardized answers to specific questions.

How does the dynamic between interviewer and interviewee play out in qualitative interviews?

In qualitative interviews, there is a dynamic relationship between the interviewer and interviewee, where the interviewer is guided by the interviewee’s responses. This relationship is built over time and encourages open, authentic communication.