Participants’ experiences of the qualitative interview: considering the importance of research paradigms

“Roulston (2010b) points out there is often considerable overlap between orientations and suggests they are most useful as heuristic devices for novice researchers to become familiar with different ways of doing interviews.”

“Our findings aligned with the literature, primarily on the experiences of ‘vulnerable’ populations, in identifying several benefits of participation and few risks (e.g. Campbell et al., 2010; Carter et al., 2008; Corbin and Morse, 2003).”

“Roulston (2010b) points out there is often considerable overlap between orientations and suggests they are most useful as heuristic devices for novice researchers to become familiar with different ways of doing interviews.”

“Overall, a growing body of literature points to the potential value of interviews as opportunities for self-reflection, appraisal, catharsis, being listened to, responded to emphatically, and to being validated (Birch and Miller, 2000; Campbell et al., 2010; Clark, 2010; Cutcliffe and Ramcharan, 2002; Hutchinson et al…”

“Overall, the risks and benefits identified by our participants are consistent with those discussed in the literature on participants’ experiences in qualitative interviews (e.g. Corbin and Morse, 2003; Hutchinson et al., 1994).”

“(Koro-Ljungberg et al., 2009) Applied to qualitative interviews, the fluid design approach would have researchers attend to both interview orientations and methods, not to ensure ideological adherence, but to: 1) engage in an interview practice that is most responsive and, therefore, beneficial to…”

“Our findings aligned with the literature, primarily on the experiences of ‘vulnerable’ populations, in identifying several benefits of participation and few risks (e.g. Campbell et al., 2010; Carter et al., 2008; Corbin and Morse, 2003).”

“…to the potential value of interviews as opportunities for self-reflection, appraisal, catharsis, being listened to, responded to emphatically, and to being validated (Birch and Miller, 2000; Campbell et al., 2010; Clark, 2010; Cutcliffe and Ramcharan, 2002; Hutchinson et al., 1994; Munhall, 1991).”

“Our findings align with research literature that suggests the therapeutic nature of qualitative research interviews (Birch and Miller, 2000; Campbell et al., 2010; Cook and Bosley, 1995; Hiller and DiLuzio, 2004).”

“…to the potential value of interviews as opportunities for self-reflection, appraisal, catharsis, being listened to, responded to emphatically, and to being validated (Birch and Miller, 2000; Campbell et al., 2010; Clark, 2010; Cutcliffe and Ramcharan, 2002; Hutchinson et al., 1994; Munhall, 1991).”

“My narrative research sought to explore the gendered nature of women’s experiences post-incarceration (Opsal, 2009, 2011, 2012).”

“Acknowledging the therapeutic nature of qualitative interviews, some qualitative researchers argue that students should receive basic counselor training prior to conducting interviews for their dissertations (Josselson and Lieblich, 2003).”

“…Copes, Hochstelter and Brown, 2013; survivors of rape, Campbell et al., 2010) and/or ‘sensitive’ topics (family estrangement, Agllias, 2011; rape, Campbell et al., 2010; sexuality, Knapik, 2006), studies show participants say interviews are emotionally intense, distressful, and sometimes painful.”

“Our findings align with research literature that suggests the therapeutic nature of qualitative research interviews (Birch and Miller, 2000; Campbell et al., 2010; Cook and Bosley, 1995; Hiller and DiLuzio, 2004).”

“…research is also reflected in the curriculum and teaching of many graduate-level qualitative research courses in which students are encouraged to think epistemologically both about their personal ‘ways of knowing’ and the epistemological orientations of their research (e.g. Paul and Marfo, 2001).”

“My narrative research sought to explore the gendered nature of women’s experiences post-incarceration (Opsal, 2009, 2011, 2012).”

“Yet both approaches tend to eschew epistemological concerns in favor of a more practice-based account of research, whether from an ‘anti-methodological’ (Hammersley, 2011) or critical realist (Maxwell, 2012) perspective.”

“For example, the socially interactive nature of interviews (Warren, 2012) suggests that, even within the same study, different interview styles (implied by different orientations) may be more conducive to working with different participants.”

“My narrative research sought to explore the gendered nature of women’s experiences post-incarceration (Opsal, 2009, 2011, 2012).”

“Our findings aligned with the literature, primarily on the experiences of ‘vulnerable’ populations, in identifying several benefits of participation and few risks (e.g. Campbell et al., 2010; Carter et al., 2008; Corbin and Morse, 2003).”

“…design’ and ‘mixed-theory’ research by Koro-Ljungberg are illustrative of a more flexible approach to qualitative research that engages, rather than ignores research orientations (e.g. Koro-Ljungberg, 2004; Koro-Ljungberg and Bussing, 2013; Koro-Ljungberg, Yendoll-Hoppey, Smith and Hayes, 2009).”

“…to the potential value of interviews as opportunities for self-reflection, appraisal, catharsis, being listened to, responded to emphatically, and to being validated (Birch and Miller, 2000; Campbell et al., 2010; Clark, 2010; Cutcliffe and Ramcharan, 2002; Hutchinson et al., 1994; Munhall, 1991).”

“…design’ and ‘mixed-theory’ research by Koro-Ljungberg are illustrative of a more flexible approach to qualitative research that engages, rather than ignores research orientations (e.g. Koro-Ljungberg, 2004; Koro-Ljungberg and Bussing, 2013; Koro-Ljungberg, Yendoll-Hoppey, Smith and Hayes, 2009).”

“My exploratory qualitative study investigated the challenges of bilingual teachers in schools with a growing language minority student population (Colomer, 2010; Colomer and Harklau, 2009).”

“…et al., 2008; prisoners, Copes, Hochstelter and Brown, 2013; survivors of rape, Campbell et al., 2010) and/or ‘sensitive’ topics (family estrangement, Agllias, 2011; rape, Campbell et al., 2010; sexuality, Knapik, 2006), studies show participants say interviews are emotionally intense,…”

“Member checks may also be conducted with specific participants who may have concerns about being identified, how they are represented in a report, or have asked that some parts of the interview to be excluded (Wolgemuth et al. 2015, p. 360).”

“Third, I approached ITR as an extension of informed consent, particularly as a way to address the risk of participants being identified (Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“This is a known risk for participants in qualitative research (Wolgemuth et al., 2015), but greater when participants are prisoners.”

“participants feared being judged (Bourne & Robson 2015) or reporting the emotional intensity participants may experience in discussing sensitive issues, to the extent that that they may withdraw from the research (Wolgemuth et al. 2015).”

“For instance, Wolgemuth et al. (2015) found that participants in their study bene fi ted from non-judgmental conversations, opportunities for self-re fl ection, and using the interview as a means to connect with and advocate for social groups of their choice.”

“For a more thorough description and discussion of risks, see Wolgemuth et al. (2014).”

“It is scientifically accepted and acknowledged that experience is a necessary and sufficient piece of knowledge in sciences [35].”

“Qualitative methodologies are recognized as providing participants opportunities to self-reflect in the context of being listened to empathically (Birch & Miller, 2000; Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“However, conversation was not restricted to these topics, but actively encouraged to diverge towards other specific points of interest (Wolgemuth et al. 2015) as the participants conversed with each other.”

“ies show that vulnerable participants can find benefit from participating, even if it is a distressing experience.(41,42) There is an important question about psychological trauma being caused by catastrophic diagnosis,”

“Two recent meta-studies of the participant experience in qualitative research (Opsal et al. 2016; Wolgemuth et al. 2015) have found that institutional review boards often underestimate the benefits brought by such research, in terms for example of developing rewarding relationships, learning about…”

“Rather than paradigm driven (Wolgemuth et al., 2015), we drive the paradigms, playing with them like my five-year-old plays with toy cars, observing what happens when they crash, fall apart, and recombine with other toys to make something different—a purple-flying-cat-car—the possibility of doing…”

“Again, in line with the gleaning insights from the in-depth interviews of Millman et al. (2019) and Wolgemuth et al. (2015), this study advocates that an organizer, when designing unique experiences, should involve tourists with the local community and strive to cultivate social…”

“Despite the risks often perceived by research participants (Wolgemuth et al., 2015), particularly socially marginalized groups (Ellard-Gray et al.”

“According to Wolgemuth et al. (2014), the aim of romantic orientation in conducting interviews is creating trust and providing entrée.”

“In qualitative research, interviews play a crucial role in delving deeply into participants' thoughts, experiences, and perspectives, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of their unique narratives, particularly beneficial for giving voice to marginalized groups [41].”

“It is scientifically accepted and acknowledged that experience is a necessary and sufficient piece of knowledge in sciences [48].”

“As Wolgemuth et al. (2015) mention that for research participants, interviews may appear like an opportunity for self-reflection, self-appraisal, catharsis, being emphatically responded to, and being validated etc.”

“A semi-structured interview technique was used, enabling key themes and questions to be addressed, but allowing flexibility for more extensive elaboration or articulation of ideas in line with participants’ own reflections and interests (Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“As research participants inevitably reflexively engage with qualitative methodologies, including not only diaries but commonly-used semi-structured interviews (Knapik, 2006; Wolgemuth et al., 2015), the agency shown by research participants by using the diary as a monitoring tool demonstrates their engagement with the…”

“Additional motivators for research participation reported in other studies include: learning about self, promoting healing, becoming knowledgeable about a topic of interest, connecting with community based on shared experience, helping others, and advocating for a cause (Bradbury-Jones, Steward, Irvine, Sambrook, 2011…”

“28 There is considerable literature on the emotional burden to palliative care patients on taking part in research and the ethical challenges of including them.”

“The literature on qualitative methods frequently notes that research participants may experience interviews as having a therapeutic effect (Birch & Miller, 2000; Mazzetti, 2013; Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“situation from the interviews, they felt good about expressing themselves to an outsider, and hoped that my research would provide insights to the senior management, that may eventually result in certain organization-wide actions to prevent such situations for others (Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“The study by Wolgemuth et al. (2015) points out that participants in qualitative interviews perceive them as emotionally intense, stressful, and sometimes painful, but also cathartic, producing higher self-awareness and a sense of empowerment, often promoting relief and giving voice to…”

“(p. 343) With respect to a range of interviewer and participant experiences in qualitative research Wolgemuth et al. (2014) note that “a growing body of literature points to the potential value of interviews as opportunities for self-reflection, appraisal, catharsis, being listened to, responded to…”

“This allowed us to elicit professionals’ perspectives through the use of open-ended questions that centered their ideas and perspectives (Brenner, 2012; Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“…as providing participants with a thera-peutic-like experience (Birch & Miller, 2000; Dickson-Swift et al., 2006; Elmir et al., 2011; McGrath, 2003; Wolgemuth et al., 2015), our study expands on this literature to explain how a quantitative annual questionnaire like the SuperMIX survey, can also…”

“Focus groups are ill suited to the exploration of sensitive, abstract, or remote topics (Cyr 2016; Wolgemuth et al. 2015).”

“An interview schedule was developed that enabled the interviewer to define the topic while at the same time allowing for flexibility in responding (Willig, 2013) and ensuring that answers were made in a manner relevant to each participant ’ s own experience (see Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“As noted by Wolgemuth et al. (2014), interviews allow researchers to collect data about the participants’ feelings and thoughts regarding a given phenomenon or experience that is being investigated.”

“…they consistently valued the opportunity to share their experiences in a safe and empa-thetic space, echoing previous findings by Young et al. (2019) Wolgemuth et al. (2014) that found that sensitive-topic inter-views can foster self-awareness and relief when conducted in a safe, empathetic manner.”

“This can present an opportunity for future research to standardize assessments by adopting the terminology used by patients when evaluating adherence to physical activity and exercise. research studies [69-71].”

“The use of qualitative interviews enables a deeply human-centered investigation of these challenges, providing a space for participants to articulate their experiences in their own words and on their own terms [30, 31].”

“This type of interview structures the topics that are being discussed, while also providing enough room for the participant to elaborate on the aspects that are deemed important (Wolgemuth et al., 2014).”

“…while avoiding inadvertent or implied criticism of the enacted practice of participants, a sort-aloud strategy was designed and implemented, thereby shifting participant focus away from the interviewer and semi-structured questioning, and toward the stimuli, as recommended by Wolgemuth (2015).”

“(Anonymous, personal communication, March 8, 2019) Qualitative interviews can directly benefit participants by providing space for participants to talk, self-reflect, and to encourage them to emotionally cleanse themselves of experiences that may be weighing on them (Wolgemuth et al., 2015).”

“, Rogers, B. C., & Bos, J. J. (2016). Do urban water development initiatives engage participants in the development of their capabilities? Reflections from India.”