Response 2

The two interviews showed me how important it is to build trust and make participants feel comfortable when collecting qualitative data. In the first interview, the interviewer did not explain the process clearly at the beginning and seemed unprepared with the recording equipment. The interviewer also made the conversation more about personal experiences by saying, “I can understand” and sharing a similar experience. Although this may have been intended to show empathy, it could influence the participant’s answers. The interviewer also asked closed-ended questions, interrupted the participant, and rushed through the final question when Laura said she needed to leave. These techniques made the interview feel uncomfortable and less professional. According to Walden University, LLC (2016a), effective interviewing requires clear communication, open-ended questions, appropriate body language, and a balance between building rapport and remaining neutral. The second interview demonstrated much stronger interviewing techniques. The interviewer explained the purpose of the study, reviewed confidentiality, discussed voluntary participation, and gave Laura the opportunity to ask questions. The interviewer also used open-ended questions and follow-up questions to encourage Laura to explain her experiences in greater detail. For example, asking, “What makes it fun?” helped Laura expand on her definition of workplace morale. The interviewer also respected Laura’s time by asking whether she wanted to continue after the scheduled 30 minutes. One technique I especially liked was asking Laura whether she had anything else to share, which gave her control over adding information that had not been directly requested. These practices helped establish trust and encouraged more detailed responses (Walden University, LLC, 2016b). Response to the paragraphs due 10/18