Managing Challenging Interviews

Overview
This course is designed to explore the key issues in planning and conducting qualitative interviews with participants in vulnerable and/or challenging situations. As well as providing insight from the trainers’ own experiences, the course aims to offer a forum where participants can discuss their own studies and reflect on these issues away from the hectic day-to-day experience of carrying out applied research.  The course will be delivered through a mix of taught and practical sessions by qualitative researchers with extensive experience of conducting in-depth interviews for complex qualitative studies.

Topics covered

• How to assess and manage vulnerability and risk throughout the life of a research project (taught and practical sessions).
• A brief overview of the principles of qualitative interviewing.
• Strategies for managing challenging interviews (taught, demo and practical sessions).

Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will:

• be able to identify the factors that may affect how vulnerable/challenging a population might be.
• be able to identify the potential risks to participants and researchers and develop strategies for managing these risks.
• have a greater awareness of strategies to manage challenging interview dynamics.
• have experience in managing these dynamics.

Target audience
You will find this course useful if you:

• are an experienced qualitative researcher who wants to learn new skills in conducting interviews with populations in vulnerable and/or challenging situations or to broaden or refresh your existing skills.
• are experienced in conducting challenging qualitative interviews but would like an opportunity to discuss any issues arising with other researchers.
• commission or manage qualitative research in central or local government, health or other applied policy sectors and need to understand the issues involved in conducting research with populations in vulnerable and/or challenging situations.

This course assumes an understanding of the principles of qualitative research and experience of having conducted qualitative research interviews. If you are new to qualitative interviewing, we recommend that you attend our Depth Interviewing Skills course instead.

Cost
£595 per participant
To register your interest, email natcenlearning@natcen.ac.uk.