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

• Published in: Qualitative research : QR Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 107 - 118
• Main Authors: Sturges, Judith E., Hanrahan, Kathleen J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London SAGE Publications 01.04.2004; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Communication; Comparative analysis; Correctional Personnel; Data collection; Data Quality; Fieldwork; Interviews; Jails; Local government; Methodology (Data Collection); Prisoners; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative Methods; Qualitative research; Research methods; Researcher Subject Relations; Social sciences; Telephone; Telephone Surveys; telephone interviews; qualitative interviews
• ISSN: 1468-7941; 1741-3109
• DOI: 10.1177/1468794104041110

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.