{"id":98,"date":"2024-08-21T11:58:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T11:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/researchmethods\/?post_type=content&p=98"},"modified":"2024-08-21T14:21:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T14:21:28","slug":"chapter-7-interview-methods-asking-people-direct-questions","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/researchmethods\/student-resources\/chapter-7-interview-methods-asking-people-direct-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 7 – Interview methods \u2013 asking people direct questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\tHome<\/a>\n<\/span>\u203a<\/span>\n\tStudent Resources<\/a>\n<\/span>\u203a<\/span>\n\tChapter 7 \u2013 Interview methods \u2013 asking people direct questions\n<\/span><\/div>\n\n

Chapter 7 – Interview methods \u2013 asking people direct questions<\/h1>\n\n\n

This chapter introduces general principles concerning the asking of questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Exercises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Exercise 7.1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Preparing an interview schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare a set of questions for an interview investigating the issue of assisted suicide. Imagine that this is for a piece of qualitative research where you wish to explore the concept fully in terms of people\u2019s attitudes to the issue. You particularly want to know how people rationalise their positions. Make sure that your questions cover a wide area of possible perspectives \u2013 look at the issue from different people\u2019s points of view. After you have prepared your interview schedule as fully as you think you can, have a look at the points below (click the \u2018reveal hints\u2019 buttons) and see if you have covered all these areas and perhaps produce some that I didn\u2019t think of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hint 1<\/summary>\n

How many of your questions will, produce short answers (e.g., \u2018do you believe in assisted suicide?\u2019 or \u2018would you ever assist someone to commit suicide?\u2019 \u2013 these are closed<\/strong> questions and may only produce single answers of \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Hint 2<\/summary>\n

Have you used prompts and probes to facilitate elaboration of shorter answers? (e.g., \u2018If no, could you tell me why?\u2019)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Hint 3<\/summary>\n

Have you investigated:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • The conditions under which your interviewee would agree to assist or agrees with assisted suicide \u2013 e.g., how many months to live, how much certainty of pain, etc., for degenerative diseases or just when life is unbearable?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Their reasons for wanting or not wanting to assist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Their reasons for accepting or rejecting the idea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The perspective of the potential suicide, the assister, the immediate family of the dying person?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The effect that publicised suicides might have on other people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Whether the interviewee would follow the law of the land (and therefore think it permissible to assist suicide in countries where this is legal).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To what extent is the assister legally culpable?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The feelings<\/em> of people assisting a loved one to suicide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The implications of the Hippocratic oath and doctors\u2019 commitment to sustaining life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • \u2026 or does the commitment to care include helping people escape pain and indignity?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The position of carers and whether sufficient support is available for them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The issue of whether we should wait for technological advances, e.g., in the area of pain relief.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • How much medical opinion should be sought \u2013 at least two doctors (e.g.)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The issue of maintaining dignity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Whether suicide is \u2018cowardly\u2019, \u2018selfish\u2019 or an act of \u2018bravery\u2019, \u2018courageous\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The sanitisation of death \u2013 so it is kept away from us most of the time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Whether removing life sustaining support is assisting suicide or \u2018murder\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The issue of control<\/em> \u2013 who should decide to maintain life if a person wants to end theirs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Religious reasons or arguments for views.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Have you teased out arguments<\/em> for and\/or against rather than just isolated views?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Exercise 7.2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Select True or False for each item to test your understanding of interview methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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