A paper which considers the positive and negative elements of a semi structured interview, looking particularly at the kind of information one would expect to elicit from this kind of research methodology.
Name of Research Paper File: JL5_JLinttech.rtf
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kind of information which he expected to glean from the exercise. As Ross (2005) points out, when conducting this kind of semi structured interview as part of qualitative research, one
needs to consider the different perspectives and worldviews which might be discovered, and the ways in which these might be explored. We are looking
here at an individuals personal narrative, in which they reveal certain elements of their life history and their present and future expectations, and these will obviously not be exactly in
line with those of the interviewer. There will, therefore, be subjective elements to take into account: both sides are approaching the exercise with certain preconceptions and prejudices, and one of
the purposes of the interview is to establish sufficient trust and effective communication between the two sides that any problems can be overcome.
We can see an example of this in the interviewees comment that he felt his English was not good enough. The researcher was not only able to reassure him,
but also made it clear that the cultural difference, even if it led to some difficulties with the language, was regarded for the purpose of the interview as a positive
rather than a negative factor. However, as Davis (2005) points out, one also has to be careful that the interviewee is not simply giving the
answers which one might wish to hear - research subjects often become quickly familiar with the intended purpose of the research and either consciously or unconsciously tailor their responses in
such a way as to please the interviewer, or make themselves appear in a more positive light. As McLaren notes, it is an integral part of human nature to present