Field Methods for Academic Research: Interviews, Focus Groups and Questionnaires in Business and Management Studies , livre ebook

Field Methods for
Academic Research
Interviews, Focus Groups
and Questionnaires in
Business and
Management Studies

Dan Remenyi

Field Methods for Academic Research:

Interviews, Focus Groups and Questionnaires in Business and Management Studies

Published by UJ Press under the Hoopoe Press imprint
University of Johannesburg
Library
Auckland Park Kingsway Campus
PO Box 524
Auckland Park
2006
https://ujonlinepress.uj.ac.za/

Compilation © Dan Remenyi 2022

Chapters © Dan Remenyi 2022

Published Edition © Dan Remenyi 2022

First published 2011 by Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited

(978-1-908272-77-5)

This edition 2022

https://doi.org/10.36615/

978-1-7764023-8-0 (Paperback)

978-1-7764023-9-7 (PDF)

Cover design: Hester Roets, UJ Graphic Design Studio

Typeset in 10/12pt Calibri

Howtousethisbook.........................................................................vi
Preface........................................................................................vii
Prologue.......................................................................................viii
ChapterOne:Effectiveinterviewingforacademicresearch..............1
1.1Introduction......................................................................1
1.2Planningofaninterview...................................................4
1.3Arrivingforandstartingtheinterview.............................7
1.4Howtocapturethedata..................................................8
1.5Theinterviewschedule.....................................................9
1.6Theinterview..................................................................12
1.7Fieldnotes......................................................................16
1.8Photographs...................................................................17
1.9Interviewassistants........................................................17
1.10Theimpromptuinterview...............................................18
1.11Unexpectedchallenges...................................................19
1.12Advantage:semiͲstructuredinterviews.........................21
1.13Theinterviewalone........................................................21
1.14Interviewsuccess............................................................22
1.15Telephone,videoandinternetinterviewing..................23
1.16Groupinterviewing.........................................................24
1.17Interviewinginadifferentlanguage..............................25
1.18Protectionofinformantsanditslimitation....................26
1.19NonͲdisclosureagreements............................................27
1.20Thetranscript.................................................................28
1.21Trapstoavoid.................................................................30
1.22Reflectionsoninterviewing............................................33
1.23Conclusionsandsummary..............................................36
1.24Endnote.........................................................................38
ExhibitsforChapterOne.............................................................40
Exhibit1.1:InterviewProtocol....................................................40
Exhibit1.2:LetterofIntroduction...............................................41
Exhibit1.3:ResearchParticipants’InformationDocument........42
i

FieldMethodsforAcademicResearch
Exhibit1.4:LetterofInformedConsent......................................44
Exhibit1.5:Anexampleinterviewschedule...............................45
Exhibit1.6:Aletterofthanks......................................................47
References...................................................................................48
Usefulwebsites...........................................................................48
ChapterTwo:Focusgroupsforacademicresearch.........................49
2.1Introduction....................................................................49
2.2Theoreticalunderpinning...............................................53
2.3Whentousefocusgroups..............................................54
2.4Generalcontextualbackgroundtotheresearch
question..........................................................................54
2.5Generatingtestablepropositionsorhypotheses...........55
2.6Elicitingissuesandfactorsaroundaspecifictopic........56
2.7Fieldtestingorpilotingameasuringinstrument...........56
2.8Interpretingthefindingsoftheresearch.......................56
2.9Multiplevoices...............................................................57
2.10Thesampleandsamplingframe....................................57
2.11Sizeandtime..................................................................58
2.12PreͲexistinggroups.........................................................59
2.13Evidenceavailablefromafocusgroup...........................59
2.14Thefacilitatorormoderator...........................................61
2.15Planningthefocusgroup................................................63
2.16InterͲorganisationalandintraͲorganisationalfocus
groups.............................................................................65
2.17Thefocusgroupmeeting................................................66
2.18Afieldnotetoreflectonthefocusgroup......................68
2.19Ethicscommittee............................................................68
2.20Therearenorightorwronganswers.............................70
2.21Limitedinterventionofthefacilitator............................70
2.22VirtualfocusgroupsͲtelephoneandonline..................71
2.23Impromptufocusgroups................................................72
2.24Multiplefocusgroups.....................................................72
2.25Focusgroupsindifferentlanguages...............................72
2.26Theoutput/outcomefromafocusgroup......................73
2.27Challengesofferedbyfocusgroups...............................74

ii

FieldMethodsforAcademicResearch
2.28Issuesofwhichtobeaware...........................................74
2.29Hasthefocusgroupbeensuccessful?............................75
2.30Reflectionsonfocusgroupsforacademicresearch.......76
2.31Summaryandconclusion...............................................78
2.32Trapstoavoid.................................................................79
2.33Endnote.........................................................................80
ExhibitsforChapterTwo.............................................................82
Exhibit2.1:FocusGroupProtocol...............................................82
Exhibit2.2:FocusGroupDiscussionQuestions..........................83
Exhibit2.3:Letter/eͲmailofinvitationtojoinafocusgroup......84
Exhibit2.4:FocusGroupWelcomingStatement........................85
Exhibit2.5:FocusGroupParticipants’Information
Document.......................................................................86
Exhibit2.6:FocusGroupLetterofInformedConsent.................88
Exhibit2.7:Formtofacilitatethefieldnoteincludingreflection
requiredafterthefocusgroupmeeting.........................89
Exhibit2.8:Aletter/eͲmailofthanksforhavingparticipatedina
focusgroup.....................................................................90
References...................................................................................91
Usefulwebsites...........................................................................91
ChapterThree:QuestionnairesforAcademicResearch..................92
3.1Definition........................................................................92
3.2Philosophicalunderpinning............................................94
3.3Strategicconsiderations.................................................95
3.4Differenttypesofquestionnaires...................................97
3.5Questionnairedesignoptions........................................97
3.6PreͲmadeversusbespokequestionnaires.....................98
3.7Therangeofissuesneededtobeconsideredindesigning
aquestionnaire...............................................................99
3.8Typesofresearch.........................................................101
3.9Theroutetoacompetentquestionnaire.....................101
3.10Scalesusedinquestionnaires.......................................103
3.11Workingthroughthequestionnairepreparatory
issues............................................................................105
3.12ExampleofQuestionnairePreparation........................105

iii

FieldMethodsforAcademicResearch
3.13Buildingthequestionnaireitems.................................108
3.14Constructingthequestionnaire....................................110
3.15PreͲcodedquestions.....................................................114
3.16Continuingbuildingthequestionnaire.........................114
3.17Movingtohypothesistesting.......................................116
3.18Otherpartsofthequestionnaire.................................117
3.19Personaldetailsabouttheinformant..........................119
3.20Commonvocabulary.....................................................120
3.21Thenatureofopenquestions......................................120
3.22Screeningquestions.................