This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sturges, J. E. Articles by Hanrahan, K. J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Comparing Telephone and Face-to-Face Qualitative Interviewing: a Research Note

Pennsylvania State University, Fayette Campus, PA, USA jes45{at}psu.edu

Kathleen J. Hanrahan

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA hanrahan{at}iup.edu

This research note reports the results of a comparison of face-to-face interviewing with telephone interviewing in a qualitative study. The study was designed to learn visitors’ and correctional officers’ perceptions of visiting county jail inmates. The original study design called for all face-to-face interviews, but the contingencies of fieldwork required an adaptation and half of the interviews were conducted by phone. Prior literature suggested that the interview modes might yield different results. However, comparison of the interview transcripts revealed no significant differences in the interviews. With some qualifications, we conclude that telephone interviews can be used productively in qualitative research.

Key Words: qualitative interviews • telephone interviews

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. James and H. Busher Credibility, authenticity and voice: dilemmas in online interviewing Qualitative Research, August 1, 2006; 6(3): 403 - 420. [Abstract] [PDF]