The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool

The article reports the development of a synchronous text-based online interviewing tool with a continuity of private discussion that is not achieved in open-ended questionnaires, email interviews and online discussion boards. The participants were women who had undergone a surgical or natural menop...

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Main Authors: Pearce, G., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie, Duda, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Routledge 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5615
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author Pearce, G.
Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
Duda, J.
author_facet Pearce, G.
Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
Duda, J.
author_sort Pearce, G.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The article reports the development of a synchronous text-based online interviewing tool with a continuity of private discussion that is not achieved in open-ended questionnaires, email interviews and online discussion boards. The participants were women who had undergone a surgical or natural menopause, who in a pilot interview highlighted the potential sensitivity of this subject and inspired the implementation of this method. The overall feedback was positive with the main advantages centred on feelings of anonymity, convenience and a more comfortable interview environment. Disadvantages included lack of body language and technical issues with computers. This technique ensures a degree of confidentiality while still obtaining depth of enquiry, where other qualitative methods potentially risk invading a participant’s privacy. It can be offered both alongside other interviewing techniques to allow participant choice and on its own when exploring sensitive and personal topics or when extra participant anonymity is appropriate.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2014
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-56152017-09-13T14:40:30Z The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool Pearce, G. Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie Duda, J. data collection internet research hysterectomy psychology menopause online technologies synchronous interviews electronic qualitative instant messenger The article reports the development of a synchronous text-based online interviewing tool with a continuity of private discussion that is not achieved in open-ended questionnaires, email interviews and online discussion boards. The participants were women who had undergone a surgical or natural menopause, who in a pilot interview highlighted the potential sensitivity of this subject and inspired the implementation of this method. The overall feedback was positive with the main advantages centred on feelings of anonymity, convenience and a more comfortable interview environment. Disadvantages included lack of body language and technical issues with computers. This technique ensures a degree of confidentiality while still obtaining depth of enquiry, where other qualitative methods potentially risk invading a participant’s privacy. It can be offered both alongside other interviewing techniques to allow participant choice and on its own when exploring sensitive and personal topics or when extra participant anonymity is appropriate. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5615 10.1080/13645579.2013.827819 Routledge restricted
spellingShingle data collection
internet research
hysterectomy
psychology
menopause
online technologies
synchronous interviews
electronic
qualitative
instant messenger
Pearce, G.
Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
Duda, J.
The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool
title The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool
title_full The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool
title_fullStr The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool
title_full_unstemmed The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool
title_short The development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool
title_sort development of synchronous text-based instant messaging as an online interviewing tool
topic data collection
internet research
hysterectomy
psychology
menopause
online technologies
synchronous interviews
electronic
qualitative
instant messenger
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5615