Educational Research Methods
A site to support teaching and learning...
Building validity checks into interviews
“By using substantial interviews … as the main research technique there is scope for considerable ‘internal validation’ of the interviewer’s interpretations of the co-learners comments during a single interview.
Such validation takes several forms…
“confirming responses by repeating or rephrasing questions…
clarifying ideas by asking follow-up questions…
paraphrasing what one believes to be the co-learner’s argument, and seeking confirmation…
returning to the same point in the same context later in the interview, to see if a consistent response is given by the co-learner…
approaching the same point through a different context later in the interview, to see if the co-learner gives a consistent response in the different contexts…” (Taber, 1993)
Included in Taber, K. S. (1993). Stability and lability in student conceptions: some evidence from a case study. Paper presented at the British Educational Research Association Annual Conference.
Available from http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/154054.htm
(Published version: Taber, K. S. (1995). Development of Student Understanding: A Case Study of Stability and Lability in Cognitive Structure. Research in Science & Technological Education, 13(1), 87-97.)
This is a personal site of Keith S. Taber to support teaching of educational research methods.
(Dr Keith Taber is Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.)
