Watch – Videos: Take masterclasses from other researchers – avoid common pitfalls, get encouragement, and ensure you’re going in the right direction with short videos that explore key terms and processes in qualitative research. Corresponding questions online help you internalize important lessons and apply them to your own project.

13.1 How to be a good interviewer

After a short introduction looking at Steinar Kvale's 10 criteria of a good interviewer, this video examines two interviews: one a short and rather poor attempt, the other a longer and much-improved version. It is designed to help anyone learning how to undertake research interviews in social science:

Can you think of any additional criteria you think a good interviewer needs?

What makes the second interview better than the first?

13.2 Focus group in action

For a 4-minute video of a focus group in action, go to:

What do you think works well about this focus group? What could be improved?

13.3 How to be a good facilitator

For a video of how to run a more open-ended focus group go to:

Think back to the video in Watch 13.2. What did the facilitator do well?

What kinds of questions would lead to good discussion and outcomes for your research?

13.4 Doing participant observation

Gerben Moerman discusses the features of participant observation, what personal skills you need to do participants observation, and the occurrence of reactivity. You also learn about different roles you can take in participant observation, the ways you present yourself (impression management), and the ethics you need to take into consideration:

What is participant observation and why it is an important method?

How might you adjust your observation strategies depending on the setting of your research?