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.
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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.
Professor 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.
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