Paula Davies (2006) also used observation in her research about the use of personal narrative to enhance learning in an English classroom. Paula
kept brief notes during each class, each of the times that I used the student personal narrative technique. In point form, I recorded my observations and reflections on what went on in the class in general, and for specific students. I then used these notes and expanded on them to create field notes for what I had observed. (p. 17)
Interviews are interactions with people, intended to collect information related to a research question or focus. They provide a way to gather information about things we cannot directly observe. This includes people's feelings, thoughts and intentions, and things that happened previously or outside of our range of observation (Patton, 1980, as cited in Merriam, 1988).
There are various approaches to interviews, from structured approaches that include pre-planned questions, to informal, guided conversations related to the topic. Interviews are typically face-to-face with one person, but can be conducted by phone or e-mail. They can also be used with groups.
Evelyn Battell (2004) and her colleagues interviewed 17 practitioners in connection with their research about effective ABE/literacy instructors. Their report includes a copy of their interview "protocol" or guide. The guide includes questions, notes about how to ask them and suggestions for follow-up questions.
When I was researching participatory approaches (Norton, 2004), I asked a research colleague to interview some students who had been involved in a conference planning committee that I had facilitated. I had kept notes about my observations and had tape recorded group meetings, and hoped that the interviews would provide another perspective on my work with the committee: