Activity mediated interviews

Interviews are a class of data collection techniques, that are used in a wide range of research designs, within different research methodologies.

Interview-about-instances

Interview-about-instances are “tape-recorded dyadic discussions with a pupil, using a series of pictures as a focus” (Watts, Gilbert and Pope, 1982, p.11).

Watts, M., Gilbert, J. K., & Pope, M. L. (1982). Alternative frameworks: representations of schoolchildren’s understanding of science. Paper presented at the First International Symposium on Representing Understanding.

"In outline, the I.A.I. technique consists of tape-recorded dyadic discussions between the researcher and a student, using a deck of cards and focusing on the applications of a single word.” (Gilbert, Watts & Osborne, 1985, p.12)

Gilbert, J. K., Watts, D. M., & Osborne, R. J. (1985). Eliciting student views using an interview-about-instances technique. In L. H. T. West & A. L. Pines (Eds.), Cognitive Structure and Conceptual Change (pp. 11-27). London: Academic Press.

Interview-about-events

Interview-about-events uses manipulative materials instead of a series of images.

“The data were collected using semistructured interviews about phenomena. The approach taken drew upon the widely used techniques of interviews-about-instances and interviews-about-events...In interviews about–events, phenomena are actually demonstrated rather than represented. In the present research, most phenomena were directly demonstrated...During the interviews, students were asked to describe the phenomena and to explain what was happening.” (Taber, K. S., & García Franco, A. (2010:1 06-107)

Taber, K. S., & García Franco, A. (2010). Learning processes in chemistry: Drawing upon cognitive resources to learn about the particulate structure of matter. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 19(1), 99-142.

Suitable interview questions

Non-leading questions should be used to explore the participant’s thinking about the foci:

       What is going on here?

        Do you see anything interesting here?

        What do you notice here?

        Would you consider this an example of? (Why?)

A hierarchical focusing approach may be take to the interview questions

A related technique is the construct repertory test activity, the ‘method of triads’ used to elicit people’s constructs of the world.

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