I found the interview was a bit difficult. Naturally I tend to be a conversationalist, but I felt stiff during the interview. Certainly this must have affected by subject. How could it not? I have subsequently spent time asking myself, "What did I do wrong?" and, "How can I do it all better next time?"
The answers do not come simply. Each interview seems certain to be as unique as each subject being interviewed. Settings change, moods change, and people change; the dynamics just cannot be replicated with ease. What is a researcher to do? I struggle with manipulating the interview setting too much as I do not want to cause the setting to dramatically alter the outcomes. For this interview we sat down in the participant's home over a cup of coffee. We were in her domain, at her house, sitting at her table. Possibly I was the nervous one. Possibly she was at ease, and her answers flowed from comfort and familiarity. But possibly not. I have no way of knowing.
Next time . . . like my former orchestral conductor said, "Practice makes better!"
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