61. Master Qualitative Interviewing

About this lesson

In this module, we explore qualitative interviewing, one of the most widely used methods for data collection in healthcare research. Interviews provide direct access to participants’ experiences, perspectives, and meaning-making, allowing researchers to engage deeply with human stories in health and care contexts.

We cover various types of qualitative interviews, from structured and semi-structured to unstructured, life history, and focus group formats. You’ll also learn how to develop effective interview guides, formulate open-ended questions, and ensure alignment with research goals.

This video also offers practical interviewing techniques: from building rapport and active listening to managing emotional content and documenting the interview experience. These skills are essential for gathering rich, ethical, and trustworthy data in qualitative healthcare studies.

What You’ll Learn

• The differences between structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews
• How to develop and refine an interview guide for depth and alignment
• Probing techniques and strategies for building participant trust
• Managing sensitive topics and emotional responses in healthcare contexts
• The role of documentation and field notes in data collection

Whether you're a student, clinician, or researcher, this module will help you conduct interviews that capture the complexity of human experience, supporting rigorous and ethical qualitative inquiry in health and social science.

Best For

• Public health and health science students
• Nursing, social work, and clinical researchers
• Qualitative and mixed methods scholars
• Practitioners conducting patient-centered or implementation research

Lesson notes

Full written notes for this lesson are in production. Until they publish, watch the video above and use the summary on this page as your study guide.