Interviewing Options

As the analysis of the role of Victorian local government is complex and not always clearly defined, the data collection techniques adopted for this thesis needed to produce quality information from a select number of respondents. The principles that underpin qualitative approaches to research as described in the Exploratory model developed by

Marshall and Rossman (1995) and grounded theory, identify the use of in-depth interviews as a useful research technique (Kvale 1996; Silverman 2001; Goulding 2002; Charmaz 2003). Charmaz (2003) stated that in-depth qualitative interviewing fits grounded theory methods particularly well (p.312).

However, the decision to utilize in-depth interviews for this dissertation requires some justification in the context of the range of interview techniques that are available.

Interviews in the broadest context are considered to be a useful research technique if the information that is sought requires consideration and discussion (Marshall and Rossman 1995; Rubin and Rubin 1995; Kvale 1996; Gaskell 2000;Williamson 2000b; Silverman 2001; Goulding 2002; Holstein and Gubrium 2003; Fontana and Frey 2005). In supporting the use of interviews as a frequently used and valuable method for research investigation, Kvale (1996) stated that the constructive nature of the knowledge created through the interaction of the partners in the interview conversation (p.11) should be acknowledged.

Holstein and Gubrium (2003) provided a useful description of the overall aim of interviews when they wrote:

(the aim) is to derive, as objectively as possible, the respondent’s own opinions of the subject matter in question, information that the respondent will readily offer and elaborate when the circumstances are conductive to his or her doing so and the proper methods are applied (p.10).

Holstein and Gubrium (2003) further stated that this aim would only be achieved if the interviewer provided a well-planned and encouraging format.

Goulding (2002) stated that interviews may be structured, unstructured, group, face to face or conducted over the telephone (p.59). Shuy (2003) maintained that there were certain advantages and disadvantages associated with each type of interviewing option. While it was acknowledged that telephone interviewing had become a dominant approach

in research in recent years (Shuy 2003), it was considered that in-person interviews best matched the research goals of this thesis.

Yin (1989) outlined three types of in-person interviews which can be summarized as (i) open-ended in nature where the respondent was one of an informant and provided insights into the matter under investigation; (ii) focused format where the respondent was interviewed for a short period and assumed a role of a corroborator of established facts; and (iii) a structured interview that was similar to a formal survey, which involved sampling procedures and other similar research instruments.

Yin’s (1989) open-ended interview format was similar in approach to what was referred to as a semi-structured interview format (Berg 1995; Marshall and Rossman 1995; Rubin and Rubin 1995; Gaskell 2000). A semi-structured interview format involved a number of predetermined questions that were typically asked of each interviewee in a systematic and consistent order. In accordance with the principles of semi-structured interviews, the interviewer however, was allowed the flexibility to digress and probe beyond the standard questions (Berg 1995; Marshall and Rossman 1995; Rubin and Rubin 1995; Gaskell 2000).

The decision was made to utilize an open-ended or semi-structured interview format for this thesis. This decision was based on two key reasons.

Firstly, Marshall and Rossman (1995) identified that structured interviews are of little value when the researcher is examining complex social relations or issues (also refer Rubin and Rubin 1995; Kvale 1996; Ticehurst and Veal 2000; Williamson 2000b; Holstein and Gubrium 2003; Fontana and Frey 2005). An examination of the role of Victorian local government involves a number of factors including its legal, financial, political and social context. The data collection strategy also needed to address Victorian local government’s current role including recommendations to assist local government in the future. As the research questions involved an exploration within a particular frame of reference it was considered that the intrinsic nature of these questions required in-depth exploration and analysis. Consequently the research questions did not lend themselves to

a highly structured research process, as this would not have produced the depth of information that the research questions demanded.

Secondly, as the interviews were to be conducted with elites or opinion leaders, the researcher needed to be able to adapt the prepared set questions without losing the point of the interview (Thomas 1993; Marshall and Rossman 1995; Rubin and Rubin 1995). It was recommended that semi-structured and open-ended questions allowed the interviewee a certain amount of freedom that would produce the best result in that circumstance (Thomas 1993; Marshall and Rossman 1995).

In summary, it was considered that in-depth, semi-structured interviews were a useful way to collect meaningful information in an effective manner and to provide a contextual understanding of the material that was collected (Marshall and Rossman 1995; Kvale 1996; Gaskell 2000; Williamson 2000b; Silverman 2001; Goulding 2002; Shuy 2003). It was considered that utilizing this research method would achieve what Gaskell (2000) described as thick descriptions (p.39) of the concepts being investigated.

It was worth noting that Williamson (2000b) identified a number of disadvantages in undertaking in-depth interviews, which included the cost in time and money, interview and interviewer variability, and the difficulty in recording and analyzing unstructured interviews.

Threats to the validity and reliability of the interview process due to interviewer bias were also identified as a potential disadvantage (Williamson 2000b). The principles of validity and reliability are fundamental research principles that needed to be taken into consideration during the research phase (Rubin and Rubin 1995; Tanner 2000; Williamson, Burstein and McKemmish 2000b). Validity is defined as the extent to which the data collected truly reflected the phenomenon being investigated, while reliability is the extent that the research findings would be the same if the research was repeated with a different sample of subjects or at a different time (Rubin and Rubin 1995; Tanner 2000; Ticehurst and Veal 2000; Williamson, Burstein and McKemmish 2000b).

The difficulties and challenges of utilizing in-depth interviews as a research method were also discussed by Blaikie (1993); Marshall and Rossman (1995); Rubin and Rubin (1995); Kvale (1996); Gaskell (2000); Ticehurst and Veal (2000); Silverman (2001); Goulding (2002); and Holstein and Gubrium (2003).

While the issues associated with in-depth interviews are acknowledged it was considered that these concerns could be addressed though the implementation of relevant processes. The strategies that were utilized to address the challenges of conducting in-depth interviews are outlined in sections 3.3.1.2 and 3.3.1.3 of this chapter.

A final issue that requires clarification is the fact that grounded theory has been associated with the use of repeat interviews with the same respondent so that the researcher can clarify interview questions as an outcome of the ongoing interview analysis (Strauss and Corbin 1990; Glaser 1992; Myers 1997; Charmaz 2003).

Charmaz (2003) stated however, that grounded theory studies have come to be identified with what she referred to as a one-shot interviewing approach (p.318), which did not provide the opportunity to correct earlier omissions or construct more complex analysis. Charmaz (2003) further stated that if researchers did undertake only one interview with each respondent that probing questions in later interviews should be introduced so that the theoretical issues could be explicitly addressed.

Due to the fact that the interviews for this research project were conducted with opinion leaders, it was not considered appropriate or feasible to seek multiple interviews. However, an ongoing analysis of the interview material was undertaken throughout the interview schedule. While the general interview format remained constant, interviews became more focused to reflect the knowledge that was obtained from earlier interviews.

Overall and despite the disadvantages of conducting in-depth interviews as identified by Williamson (2000b); and other writers on this topic (Blaikie 1993; Marshall and Rossman 1995; Rubin and Rubin 1995; Kvale 1996; Ticehurst and Veal 2000; Gaskell 2000; Silverman 2001; Goulding 2002; Holstein and Gubrium 2003; Fontana and Frey 2005), it

was considered that the use of in-depth interviews was the most appropriate option in the context of the research questions being explored in this thesis.