In parts one and two of the four-part in-depth individual interview (IDI) series, we presented attributes/skills of a good interviewer and strengths of IDI over conventional focus groups. Part three explains how to effectively plan and conduct an IDI.

There are seven discrete stages for planning, conducting and reporting IDI research (Kvale, 1996): thematizing, designing, analyzing, verifying and reporting. We’ll cover the first three stages in this post. The last four stages will be presented in final part of the series.

Stage 1: Thematizing - This stage answers three basic questions: What do we need to know and why? What method of research is most appropriate for finding out what we need to know? How will the findings be put to practical use? The outcome of thematizing is to confirm that IDI methodology is sound for meeting focused research objectives and pinpointing the information you want to gather and put to use.

Stage 2: Designing – If it’s determined that IDI is the appropriate methodolody, a systematic way must be designed to collect the required data. The In-Depth Interview Guide includes four components: interviewer information (i.e. project time, date, location information); interview questions, along with an area for observation notes (these first two components can be combined into the same document); a post-interview comment/field note sheet for impressions, interpretations and expanded notes; and an informed consent form. (see sample IDI Guide) More on informed consent is presented in Stage 3.

Stage 3: Interviewing – There is no shortage of resources on how to best conduct IDIs. A plethora of books and papers are devoted to this subject. Combining what the literature has to say with the benefit of practical experience, here are some good basic guidelines to follow:

• Create a positive interviewing environment. Physically, this means conducting the interview in a quiet, private area that is conducive to conversation. Try to eliminate physical barriers that might create psychological barriers to communication, like a desk between an interviewer and participant. Participants should be greeted in a friendly way to help put their mind at ease and to get them to relax before starting.
• Obtain informed consent. This is best done in writing, although there are times that verbal consent may need to suffice. The important thing to remember is that you need to let each participant know what he or she is agreeing to before starting the interview. Note: all interviews should be audio taped, so make sure your recorder is working before starting the interview.
• Conduct a comprehensive interview. Be sure to ask all questions in the IDI Guide. Keep in mind that the role of the interviewer is to guide the conversation and fully explore the participant's answers. At the end of the interview, the participant should be offered the opportunity to ask any questions he or she may have. In some cases, you may not have an answer to a question. If not, don't try to make one up. Make a note of the question and respond to it promptly.
• Tie up loose ends. Before leaving the room, make sure any honorarium is paid according to research study guidelines and obtain a participant’s signature for receipt of payment. Spot check the tape to confirm the session was recorded. Insure you have all elements of the IDI Guide and have given a copy of the signed informed consent form to the participant.

Note: It’s a good idea to have a single location for all research materials. I've found a large manila envelope is as good as anything. Make sure this is kept in a safe and secure location.

Within 24 hours of each interview, make sure you review notes from the IDI Guide, and expand them to provide useful insight about the content and contextual clues using the post comments/field notes form.

In the fourth and final part of the IDI series, we will present four important stages that follow the interview.