Interview Types

When I had finished collecting photos for my research project, I then went back to clarify picture meanings through interviews. I had to chose between personal one on one interviews or group interviews/focus groups. Even though focus groups would have been more efficient and economical, I felt that going one on one with my participants would provide the best information. When I sent out the email asking for pictures, I was vague in what I was looking for because I did not want to influence their decisions on pictures. I felt the same thing would happen in a focus group. With everyone together, I foresaw someone saying something and the rest of the group agreeing with them instead of forming their own idea of school spirit. I could have used a devil's advocate, but once a topic is out in the open, the other participants can jump on it and not let go. For those reasons I chose one on one interviews. The interviews I used were semi-structured. I did not follow a specific line of questions and most of the questions were open ended. Also, all the interviews did not have the same questions. The questions focused primarily on each person's individual pictures, why they chose them, and why they think it demonstrates school spirit. The interviews took place at the participants time and place of choosing. The information was not sensitive in nature the students were not concerned very much with privacy. I took notes during the interviews as well as taking mental notes which I wrote down after the interview had ended. Although the one on one interviews took longer and more effort than a focus group, I truly believe that I got better information this way than I would have got with any other form on interviewing.