How to Interview and Conduct Focus Groups

Speaking with people is one of the best ways to understand the "why" and "how" of human experience, values, beliefs, and perspectives. This book offers guidance for undergraduate and masters-level students in conducting a research project that involves personal interviews or focus groups. It provides tips on how to plan for, conduct, and analyze qualitative data. Readers will learn how interviews and focus groups can be used in various qualitative research designs. They will explore coding, analysis, and reporting methods, along with conceptual issues like inductive logic and voice. Professional skills for interacting and for using technology ethically and appropriately are also covered. Helpful organizational tools in the book include example interview protocols, tips for recruitment and requesting consent, group facilitation guidelines, instructions for creating codebooks, and samples of different writing and publishing formats. In recent decades, opportunities have increased for students to engage in inquiry-driven learning. This book will help them take advantage of such opportunities and enhance their applications to graduate school or jobs in academic, research, or clinical settings.