Learning For and From the Field: The Experience of Being a Research Interviewer

Abstract

This article provides a narrative on the experience of being a research interviewer on a federally-funded state-wide study of group homes for youth. Despite the centrality of interviewers for much of the research on a wide range of children's services, very little attention has been given to how interviewers experience this role and what supports they need to enact it effectively. The article discusses various aspects of the interviewer job, discusses management and supervisory approaches that support interviewers, and provides lessons learned and anecdotes to illustrate key points. An introduction and concluding thoughts by the study's Principal Investigator provide an overview and potentially relevant lessons for the broader research field.

Keywords:

• interviewer
• training
• data collection

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant MH057448 from the National Institute of Mental Health.