Eelkooliealiste laste intervjueerimistehnikate ohud ja võimalused
Date
2011
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
This Master`s thesis named Dangers and Possibilities of preschool children interviewing
techniques focuses on how to interview a child in the most effective way). Discussion
about children rights (children right to share their opinion for example) is a constant
topic. To assure correct and undistorted publicity for children voice it is important for
questioner to possess the most effective interviewing techniques.
Data that is analyzed in the present thesis includes 7 interviews carried out by educators
(2 interviews) and by author of the present paper (5 interviews). In order to establish the
most effective interviewing technique and to map out appropriate questions qualitative
text analysis is combined with conversation analysis. In more detail, three main aspect
were observed during conversation analysis:
• listening to each other,
• control of understanding,
• turn-taking in conversation.
Similarly, text analysis can be divided into three categories including:
• analysis of interrogative words,
• effectiveness of interaction,
• answers to questions.
In additon, climate of interview created by interviewer was also analyzed. In order to
clarify general trends some of the qualitative data was quantified and placed on
graphics.
Results of the analysis indicated that key factor of child interviewing is active listening
and question formulation should be adjusted to child competences. Hence, active
listening questions are important because:
• those questions help questioner to understand child`s social competence.
• By asking active listening questions, interviewer is able to use vocabulary that is
understandable to child.
• By asking active listening questions interviewer shows his or hers earnest
interest to interviewee who is therefore encouraged to talk.
• Questions that are based on active listening enable to gather more detailed
information. (One is able to detect key aspects for child.)
• Those questions help to focus current subject and to avoid disorder.
• Active listening helps to avoid misunderstandings.
• Active listening questions help child to better express oneself, to reflect one’s
experiences in more detail and hence improve one’s social competence.
Interviewing a child associates with different aspects starting with ethics and ending
with usage of game like opportunities. Hence, method variability could enhance
conversation between interviewer and child. By using current thesis, one could develop
the topic further. It could be useful to compose guidance for child interviewers that
should include following chapters:
• subjects that can be discussed without harming child’s interests.
• Overview of techniques that affect children (behavioral patterns that should be
avoided in order to minimize the impact of our own thoughts to child).
• Questioning techniques and guidance for bringing out child’s self reflection.
• Overview of game like techniques that could promote or hold back the course of
conversation.
• Techniques and advices that would increase effectiveness of child interviewing .
Such Estonian guidance would be the first in its kind. Hence, it could simplify and
increase efficiency of bringing out truthful voice of “little people”.