Online Interviewing Tips for Researchers

Online interviews can be cost-effective, convenient, and quick. But there are also specific challenges to take into account: How do you build rapport with your interviewee through a screen, overcome tech glitches, and generate rich data? In this video, PhD researcher Stella Toonen and I cover the dos and don’ts of conducting qualitative interviews online. Are we missing some vital tips? If so, do share yours!
🔎 TIME STAMPS
0:00 - benefits of online interviews
1:28 - informed consent
2:42 - choosing a platform
3:01 - time zones
3:40 - interview guide
4:20 - check your tech
5:10 - set the scene
6:50 - starting the interview
8:10 - eye contact
9:07 - active listening
9:48 - silences
11:10 - tech hurdles
12:08 - get creative
13:20 - finishing off
13:50 - capture your experience
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📚 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hanna, P. & Mwale, S. (2017). ‘‘I’m Not with You, Yet I Am …’: Virtual Face-to-Face Interviews’. In V. Braun, V. Clarke & D. Gray (Eds.), Collecting Qualitative Data: A Practical Guide to Textual, Media and Virtual Techniques (pp. 235-255). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi.org/10.1017/9781107295094...
LSE Digital Ethnography Collective (2021). Collective Reading List. tinyurl.com/52wfy28z
Lupton, D. (Editor) (2020). ‘Doing Fieldwork in a Pandemic’ (crowd-sourced document). tinyurl.com/h679ye4b
McGrath, C., Palmgren, P.J. & Liljedahl, M. (2018). ‘Twelve Tips for Conducting Qualitative Research Interviews.’ Medical Teacher, 41(9), 1002-1006. doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2018...
Roberts, J.K., Pavlakis, A.E. & Richards, M.P. (2021). ‘It’s More Complicated Than It Seems: Virtual Qualitative Research in the COVID-19 Era.’ International Journal of Qualitative Methods. doi.org/10.1177/1609406921100...
Weller, S. (2017). ‘Using Internet Video Calls in Qualitative (Longitudinal) Interviews: Some Implications for Rapport.’ International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 20(6), 613-625. doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2016...
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🔌 FINANCIAL SUPPORT
This video series is supported by:
↳ Augustinus Fonden
↳ King's College London and The Wellcome Trust’s Institutional Strategic Support Fund
↳ LAHP Impact, Engagement & Entrepreneurship Fund

[@renevank]

This is so extremely useful! Took some time to find this video, most of them are about job interviews. This is exactly what I needed! I also enjoyed the fact that you showed examples while explaining 😄

[@huyenle2k]

Thank you so much Nina! This is a really great video, both in terms of the content and the video itself. You guys did a great job!

[@sakurarajapakse4033]

What a friendly video yet covering all the points so effectively! Thanks a lot!

[@lilychu8912]

This is superb! Concise and practical advice. Also, the sense of humor and editing is excellent.

[@sheilawatleyzorrilla362]

Thank you so much, Nina! Your video really helped me. I was afraid of doing online interviews for my MA but your video was great.

[@mehco-op9061]

I have my first online interview coming up and this has been so helpful - looking at the camera was a great tip, thanks!

[@ideas.graphic.fullservice9384]

EXCELLENT! Bravo! Thank you sooo much for this. Can't wait to do my first interview and hopefully master it!

[@jr-kr3kn]

Great video, learned some useful tips for my work in market research, thank you!

[@feriansyahbonauli3515]

thank you for all these much needed tips

[@v_dombr]

Well done indeed! Thank you very much for this both entertaining and very practical, and helpful video 🙂

[@oneiroasteria]

Such a great and informative video! Thank you so much for the insights.

[@reabetswedithung]

This is amazing. Thank you for sharing 🌻

[@evelynchew9590]

Beautifully done! Sending this to my class;)

[@sarajaaksola]

Excellent tips and such a high quality video!

[@ananyaasridhar4999]

Thank you so much for the video!! really helped :)

[@saidimawenje4458]

Thanks, much appreciation Nina

[@mostefanput9314]

Many Thanks, this is fabulous

[@rohanmaharaj1529]

Thank you. Very useful.

[@alexandra-irenesikomitelli4611]

Great video. Thank you!! :)

[@ainolbasirah2923]

Hey! Thank u very much, really helpful!

[@gelanafayera2028]

An excellent interview thanks doc.

[@emanyahia9940]

Awesome tips thanks a lot

[@michaelaomojola4437]

Thanks so much for this great video. I learnt a lot. There is not much out there on interview videos.

[@omaralamro5092]

thanks ,it is really helpful

[@shadibrhm1184]

That was great! Hope it would help me.🤞

[@katrinestevnhj6233]

Hvor skægt at åbne videoen og opdage at du er fra Danmark. Tak for en rigtig god, informativ video. Og god vind med din forskning. Bedste hilsner fra en ph.d.-kollega fra Humaniora på Københavns Universitet.

[@9navindum]

Tak for din søde kommentar, Katrine! Så hyggeligt med KUA-vibes. Din forskning lyder for sej.

[@liezlejumamil9684]

thank you

[@ayses3851]

👌

[@nurazmiahbt.zainuddinnih6899]

Thank you for very lovely video. Do you let other team member be in the interview as well?

[@9navindum]

Thank you so much - I'm happy to hear you liked the video! If you are working with others, it can be very beneficial to have a second team member there. For instance, one person could be in charge of running the interview and asking questions while the other person observes and takes notes. However, I would be mindful of the interviewee's experience, especially if you are dealing with sensitive subject matter. In some cases, the interviewee may feel more comfortable speaking to just one person, which would then lead to better interview data. I would make sure to explain the proposed setup with the interviewee beforehand, just to ensure they feel comfortable with it. I hope this helps!

[@myriancoronel2299]

what is your recommended platform to use? If we don’t have a premium account for example

[@9navindum]

That's a great question. In my interviews, I have used both MS Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype. I tend to ask my interviewees what software they have access to and stick to that. However, I would definitely check if the platform has any restrictions on meeting duration, as this has become more prevalent over the past couple of years. For instance, if you are a basic/free user of Zoom, meetings are currently limited to 40 minutes - but your institution might have a licence for staff and students that allows you to host longer meetings. It is also worth checking if your institution has specific requirements due to cyber security and data handling. In short: It depends... Sorry for the slightly vague answer!

[@zhumingbao3654]

May I ask you how to use recording devices while you plug your headphones in? I am trying to understand that but having some difficulties

[@9navindum]

That's a good question! One solution could be to record the interview directly via the video conferencing software you're using. Here's a guide from Skype: support.skype.com/en/faq/fa12395/how-do-i-record-my-skype-calls However, it's worth considering if recording the actual video may impact the quality of the interview (for instance, the interviewee may not feel comfortable being recorded this way). I hope this helps - good luck :)

[@zhumingbao3654]

@@9navindum Thank you so much, i will look into this

[@After_25]

In cases where the invitations are sent out but the participants did not write anything back whether they want to be a part of the interview or not. How can one send a re-request to accept the interview invitation ?

[@9navindum]

That's a good question. I would send a friendly follow-up email to ask if they want to take part or not (in fact, I had to that quite a few times for my PhD fieldwork!). But if they don't reply after the first follow-up, I think it's better to leave it and find someone else.