{"title":"Probing in qualitative research interviews: Theory and practice","authors":"Oliver C. Robinson","doi":"10.1080/14780887.2023.2238625","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The effective use of probing in research interviews is central to eliciting rich, deep data from participants. Probing achieves access to this extra level of detail and depth via verbal prompts to clarify, elaborate, illustrate or explain a prior answer to an interview question that the participant has already given. This article presents a four-part theoretical framework of narrative theory, self-disclosure theory, autobiographical memory theory and attribution theory, which together provide a sense-making structure for why probing works and why it is important to research interviews. I then summarise a taxonomic model, entitled the DICE approach to probing. DICE is an acronym that stands for four types of probe based on first letters: 1. Descriptive Detail Probes, 2. Idiographic Memory Probes, 3. Clarifying Probes, 4. Explanatory Probes. This is followed by a critical consideration of probing in relation to Yardley’s evaluation criteria for qualitative research.","PeriodicalId":48420,"journal":{"name":"Qualitative Research in Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6000,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Qualitative Research in Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2023.2238625","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
ABSTRACT The effective use of probing in research interviews is central to eliciting rich, deep data from participants. Probing achieves access to this extra level of detail and depth via verbal prompts to clarify, elaborate, illustrate or explain a prior answer to an interview question that the participant has already given. This article presents a four-part theoretical framework of narrative theory, self-disclosure theory, autobiographical memory theory and attribution theory, which together provide a sense-making structure for why probing works and why it is important to research interviews. I then summarise a taxonomic model, entitled the DICE approach to probing. DICE is an acronym that stands for four types of probe based on first letters: 1. Descriptive Detail Probes, 2. Idiographic Memory Probes, 3. Clarifying Probes, 4. Explanatory Probes. This is followed by a critical consideration of probing in relation to Yardley’s evaluation criteria for qualitative research.
期刊介绍:
Qualitative Research in Psychology is an international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality, original research. It aims to become the primary forum for qualitative researchers in all areas of psychology, including cognitive, social, developmental, educational, clinical, health, and forensic psychology. The journal also welcomes psychologically relevant qualitative research from other disciplines. It seeks innovative and pioneering work that advances the field of qualitative research in psychology.
The journal has published state-of-the-art debates on various research approaches, methods, and analytic techniques, such as discourse analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis, visual analyses, and online research. It has also explored the role of qualitative research in fields like psychosocial studies and feminist psychology. Additionally, the journal has provided informative articles on ethics, transcription, interviewee recruitment, and has introduced innovative research techniques like photovoice, autoethnography, template analysis, and psychogeography.
While the predominant audience consists of psychology professionals using qualitative research methods in academic, clinical, or occupational settings, the journal has an interdisciplinary focus. It aims to raise awareness of psychology as a social science that encompasses various qualitative approaches.
In summary, Qualitative Research in Psychology is a leading forum for qualitative researchers in psychology. It publishes cutting-edge research, explores different research approaches and techniques, and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration.