Reflections on Joint and Individual Interviews With Couples: A Multi-Level Interview Mode

Sharon Blake,Anne Barlow,Jan Ewing,Astrid Janssens

doi:10.1177/16094069211016733

Sharon Blake, Anne Barlow + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211016733

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Abstract

When researchers are interested in the experiences of couples, the mode of interview is typically considered a binary choice between separate individual interviews with each partner, or a joint interview with both partners together. That is, if interview mode is explicitly considered at all. In this article, we illustrate a reflective process undertaken to explore the role of interview mode in the production of knowledge. Our focus is the adoption of multi-level semi-structured interviews wherein couples were interviewed both jointly and individually in one visit. The paper is set out in two parts. In part one, the study context and how the mode of interview was conceptualized is considered, before describing the chosen multi-level interview design. In part two, how the mode of interview worked in practice is discussed. The triangulation of individual and dyadic level perspectives collected rich data. Despite the novelty of mode, the challenges encountered reflected familiar concerns with semi-structured interviews: characteristic match between interviewer and interviewee, recording tacit knowledge, moving beyond normative expression and balancing disclosure with interviewee well-being. The paper concludes with a consideration of our assumptions of what constitutes a “successful” interview and offers guiding reflective questions for researchers who are considering semi-structured interviews. Further research is needed to explore the impact of different interview modes.

Highlights

Interviewing couples can provide valuable insights across disciplines and topics concerned with relationships
We were concerned that if we offered a choice to be interviewed jointly or separately, and one partner actively opted for individual interviews, this may be perceived as negative evidence of the partner having secrets to share (Taylor & de Vocht, 2011)
Our choice of examples for this reflection suggests we initially felt as they each describe a moment in the interview process where a level of depth or understanding was reached which was not revealed at first. As many of these revelations occurred in the individual interviews, such a perspective could be seen to advocate for this mode

Summary

Introduction

Interviewing couples can provide valuable insights across disciplines and topics concerned with relationships. A lack of reported reasoning for adopting a particular mode may reflect an assumption that the research aims act as a primary driver for choosing data collection methods (Braybrook et al, 2017). If the aims are reported, the data collection method is explained This does not provide the rationale behind the choice of mode nor a detailed description. The aim of this paper is to contribute to methodological discussion regarding interview mode, by reflecting on a study which utilized a single combined joint and individual interview approach with couples to explore attributes of satisfying enduring relationships (Blake & Janssens, 2021; Ewing et al, 2020). We discuss how a multi-level interview design may balance the strengths and weaknesses of individual and joint interviews, and leaves us with familiar ongoing challenges regardless of interview mode. We reflect on what it means to undertake a “successful” interview and translate our experience into a list of guiding reflective questions for researchers considering semi-structured interviews

Part One: Study Design

Part Two: A Multi-Level Design in Practice

Disclosure

Study Design