Module EDUC47010: Interviews

Department: Education

EDUC47010: Interviews

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• Introduce students to key debates concerning interviews as an approach to educational research.
• Introduce students to core methods for interview research in education.
• Introduce students to core methodological arguments around interview research in education.

Content

• What are interviews? Why might a researcher conduct interviews? What are different types and purposes of interviews? For example. 1-1, 1- many; structured, semi-structured and unstructured; face-to-face, telephone, online.
• Theoretical and related practical considerations of data collection, for example interview schedule; researcher positionality and power; participant access and recruitment; ethical considerations; working with ‘specialised’ participants (eg children, hard-to-reach groups).
• Theoretical and related practical considerations of data analysis, including: types of analysis: for example, inductive and deductive; thematic analysis, software informed analysis; researcher positionality and power with regards to analysis.

Learning Outcomes

• A critical understanding of current debates around interviews as an approach within educational research.
• A critical understanding of a range of approaches related to conceptualization, application, and analysis of interviews within educational research.

• To have an understanding of how to conduct interviews.
• To have an understanding of how to analyse interviews.

• To be able to engage in academic writing.
• To be able to engage in academic reading.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Workshops - each workshop require extensive preparation of guided reading by students prior to class, which will provide context for the theoretical and practical background of interviewing as well as its application. Workshops will then follow a participatory format:
• Sections of tutor-led content;
• Peer and tutor-led discussion groups;
• Practical exercises – designing interview schedules, practicing interview technique.
• Data analysis of interview data
• Summative assessment will be a portfolio that includes justification of interview schedule and potential methods of analysis.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Plan for portfolio. Formative assessment is also ongoing, through completion of workshop tasks, evaluation of practical work, facilitation of peer-led discussions.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University