What is it about?
Online communication tools are increasingly being used by qualitative researchers; hence it is timely to reflect on the differences when using a broad range of data collection methods. Using a case study with a potentially hard-to-reach substance-using population who are often distrustful of researchers, this article explores the use of a variety of different platforms for interviews. It highlights both the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Face-to-face interviews and online videos offer more opportunity to build rapport, but lack anonymity. Live Webchat and audio-only interviews offer a high level of anonymity, but both may incur a loss of non-verbal communication, and in the Webchat a potential loss of personal narrative. This article is intended for sociologists who wish to broaden their methods for conducting research interviews.
Featured Image
Photo by Adem AY on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Not every online method used to reach research participants is equally useful
Perspectives
This is written from the perspective of mixed-methods researchers in the health and social care field.
Prof. Edwin R van Teijlingen
Bournemouth University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Using a Range of Communication Tools to Interview a Hard-to-Reach Population, Sociological Research Online, February 2023, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/13607804221142212.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
