Introduction/Overview

This one-day live online course will provide training on depth interviews. The course is designed to provide early-career and mid-career researchers, and other policy and practice professionals with the skills required to plan and conduct depth interviews.

The morning session introduces participants to the foundational principles of depth interview design, including defining the sample, recruiting participants, designing research questions and topic guides, building rapport, audio and video recording, and the importance of listening.

The afternoon session provides the opportunity for more in-depth small-group practice exercises and discussion, and for the practical application of the material covered to existing and future research projects in which participants are engaging.

Pre-Assignment: Please bring a list of questions / themes to the session. (If you will not be using depth interview methodology immediately, please bring a list of questions based on a neutral topic of your choice so you can participate in the group exercise).

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will have gained a better understanding of:

• identifying key features and objectives of in-depth interviews
• deciding when it might be appropriate to use the in-depth interview approach, compared to other interview approaches
• designing and using a topic guide
• interviewer role attributes and competence in the different aspects of managing the interview process
• practical skills of in-depth interviewing: active listening; open questioning and probing

Topics

• considerations before the interview
• designing and using a topic guide
• interviewer attributes
• managing the interview process
• stages of the interview
• in-depth interviewing skills: active listening, open questioning and probing techniques

Who will benefit?

You will find the course useful if:

• you are just starting to conduct in-depth interviews
• have some previous experience of conducting qualitative interviews, but lack formal training
• you commission or manage qualitative research in central or local government, social science or other applied research sectors

Course tutor

Dr Sarah Jasim has a background in social science research and has been teaching research methods for over 12 year, currently for the LSE, UCL, KCL, NIHR ARC North Thames, LISS DTP, Methodical and the SRA. She is a Policy Fellow for the London Research and Policy Partnership (LRaPP), embedded within the City Intelligence Unit at the GLA. She is a senior mixed methods researcher with previous experience in complex evaluations in mental health, social care and health services; and research skills in statistical methods, qualitative research, mixed methods, realist evaluation, participatory action research, co-design / co-production and knowledge brokerage.

Course fee payable to SRA

  This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme

Looking to book for six or more people from your organisation? Get in touch to ask about our in-house training: [email protected]