Biomaterial Database

The telephone interview as a data collection method. 1994

P Burnard

The interview is one of the most frequently used methods of collecting qualitative data. This paper offers a description of how the telephone interview may be used to collect data in both qualitative and quantitative studies. It offers a description of how to plan and use the telephone as a means of collecting data and justifies the use of this method. The paper also describes and illustrates how textual data that arises from the use of telephone interviews may be analysed by computer. Two approaches to analysis are outlined: (1) simple drawing together of responses to questions and (2) the searching for categories within the data and the organisation of text within those categories. The paper identifies limitations of the approach to data collection and points to further reading on the topic.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007407	Interviews as Topic	Works about conversations with an individual or individuals held in order to obtain information about their background and other personal biographical data, their attitudes and opinions, etc. It includes works about school admission or job interviews.	Group Interviews,Interviewers,Interviews, Telephone,Oral History as Topic,Group Interview,Interview, Group,Interview, Telephone,Interviewer,Interviews, Group,Telephone Interview,Telephone Interviews
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013689	Telephone	An instrument for reproducing sounds especially articulate speech at a distance. (Webster, 3rd ed)	Switchboard Service,Service, Switchboard,Services, Switchboard,Switchboard Services,Telephones
D015404	Nursing Methodology Research	Research carried out by nurses concerning techniques and methods to implement projects and to document information, including methods of interviewing patients, collecting data, and forming inferences. The concept includes exploration of methodological issues such as human subjectivity and human experience.	Methodology Research, Nursing,Research, Nursing Methodology,Clinical Methodology Research, Nursing,Nursing Methodological Issues Research