handling the misconceptions and challenges of key informant interviews
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Handling the Misconceptions and Challenges of Key Informant Interviews. A teleconference hosted by The Tobacco Control Evaluation Center Robin Kipke, Evaluation Associate February 26, 2009. Agenda. Objective: Correct misconceptions and tackle challenges of doing KIIs - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Handling the Misconceptions and Handling the Misconceptions and Challenges of Key Informant Challenges of Key Informant
InterviewsInterviews
A teleconference hosted by
The Tobacco Control Evaluation Center
Robin Kipke, Evaluation Associate
February 26, 2009
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AgendaAgenda
Objective: Correct misconceptions and tackle challenges of doing KIIs
• When and why to conduct KIIs
• Who makes a useful informant
• How to prepare for an interview
• How to obtain an interview
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What Is a Key Informant What Is a Key Informant Interview?Interview?
A key informant is someone who can “unlock” information for you about an issue
An interview is a conversation with a structure and a purpose
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Purpose of a Key Informant Purpose of a Key Informant InterviewInterview
To get understanding of an issue or culture
To capture the big picture To get rich detailTo investigate the breadthTo test the depthTo determine the ranges &
possibilities
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What a Key Informant Interview What a Key Informant Interview Is NotIs Not
A key informant interview is NOTa surveyan educational visitthe same as a news interview
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When to Conduct Key Informant When to Conduct Key Informant InterviewsInterviews
Early in a campaign and/or near its end
• To explore information
(when you don’t know something)
• To confirm information
(when you want to assess what you did)
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What Key Informant Interviews What Key Informant Interviews Can DoCan Do
KIIs can help your project:Get ideas for your strategy
Identify and gain access to key players
Develop relationships with stakeholders and info sources
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When to Conduct Key Informant When to Conduct Key Informant InterviewsInterviews
At the beginning of an intervention –
To inform the planning of your project about The various positions or “camps” on an
issue Potential barriers and challenges to
achieving your policy goal Cultural considerations of a target
population How best to approach a particular
stakeholder group
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When to Conduct Key Informant When to Conduct Key Informant InterviewsInterviews
After an intervention –
To gather process data to inform future actions
Learn how various stakeholders felt about the program or policymaking process
Reflect on what worked/didn’t work, why a policy was/wasn’t adopted, particularly effective strategies, ways to improve
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Misconceptions about Using KIIsMisconceptions about Using KIIs
Misconceptiono That you need to ask the same questions
in both pre- and post-intervention KIIs
Fact Usually not, since KIIs are most often
used to collect process data about how and why things happened
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How to Choose InformantsHow to Choose InformantsSelect people who will either:
• Be affected by the proposed policy
• Have the power to make policy decisions
• Possess unique perceptions/points of view
OR
• Know a great deal about the issue/culture
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Who Makes a Good InformantWho Makes a Good Informant
Think about the informant’s role and what you need to know
• Politicians/officials/their staff
• Service providers
• Community leaders
• Business owners
• Cultural insiders
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Diversifying Your Informant PoolDiversifying Your Informant Pool
Experience from the Field
Roy RosellHealth Educator/Community
OrganizerThe Asian Youth Center in San
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Who to Include in Your Who to Include in Your SampleSample
Seek a variety of viewpoints –
• From constituents, allies, opponents,
targets• From people of differing job titles,
characteristics, positions on an issue
• Don’t just talk to likely supporters!
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How to Prepare for an InterviewHow to Prepare for an Interview
Use social investigation techniques
Research public recordsAttend open meetings beforehand
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Investigating Public FiguresInvestigating Public Figures
Experience from the Field
Vanessa MarvinOrganizing Coordinator
The Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing
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www.Center4TobaccoPolicy.org
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How to Approach a Key InformantHow to Approach a Key Informant
Introduce
Yourself
Your organization
Your purpose
Your sales pitch – why s/he as key
informant
How much time you’ll need
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Obtaining an InterviewObtaining an Interview
Experience from the Field
Denise Cintron PeralesEvaluator, Perales & Associates
Evaluation Services (PAES)
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Obtaining Interviews with Obtaining Interviews with PolicymakersPolicymakers
Contact officials that your project has worked with
Have project staff make the initial contact
Once informant agrees, introduce yourself & purpose of interview
Mention that you were told informant agreed to be interviewed
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Interview Scheduling LogisticsInterview Scheduling Logistics
Offer several different options for data & time
State approximately how long the interview will last
The day before the interview, send a reminder email
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Meeting ChallengesMeeting Challenges
Insights from participants:
How do you handle…?
• Getting reluctant informants to agree to an interview
• Interviewing a likely opponent
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How to Respond to Questions in an How to Respond to Questions in an InterviewInterview
Experience from the Field
Carey JanuaryProject DirectorGirl’s Club of Los AngelesChair of Coalition for Smoke-free
Parks
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Formulating KII Question GuidesFormulating KII Question Guides
Map out key data points with end-use strategizing
Start with easy, non-threatening questions
Sequence questions for conversation flow
Avoid bias in the wordingAnticipate possible follow up
questions
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Resources for Doing KIIsResources for Doing KIIs
For more help with key informant interviews
• Watch a pre-recorded presentation on conducting KIIs from the TCEC website
• Download end-use strategizing tools and tips on formulating interview questions from the TCEC website to help you develop your KII question guides
• Call or email an evaluation associate for individual help
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