Cloning of DNA constructs

6.1: Part I – One to one interviews

Materials

Data collection was through face to face interviews, a method used to elicit personal and intimate views and opinions, producing a rich data source.

An unstructured format to interviewing was chosen as this encourages the participant to give open–ended accounts of their thoughts, experiences and

opinions (Hayes, 2000). This interview method is concerned with finding meaning. The emphasis is on acquiring deep knowledge and authenticity of the individual’s life experiences (Gubrium and Holstein, 2001). Maternal-fetal attachment is personal, intimate and emotional; the unstructured interview is an apt tool allowing the participant to tell their own story, often evoking deep disclosure (Johnson, 2001; Corbin and Morse, 2003). A further advantage of using the unstructured interview within this study is that flexibility afforded allows the interviewer to explore how the individual constructs maternal-fetal attachment, pursue emergent themes and gain new insights into the women’s experiences (Corbin and Morse, 2003). In the unstructured interview the participants are active subjects and have the freedom to tell their story in their own way.

The potential depth of disclosure necessitates that the researcher is aware that within qualitative research they become part of the process and have a responsibility to equitably manage the research relationship and assure confidentiality. The unstructured interview is similar to a normal

conversation, the researcher says as little as possible allowing the participant to tell their story and to maintain some control over the interview (Low, 2007). However no interview is totally devoid of structure, the conversation must be informed by the research question and the researcher may use a very

may not be used (McCracken, 1988). This flexibility allows the researcher to explore issues of interest introduced by the participant and the participant has the freedom to freely give their opinions.

The unstructured interview involves establishing trust and encouraging a high level of rapport to explore the views and motivations of the interviewee (Massarik, 1981). It is important that the interviewer develops interview skills to explore meaning and facilitate effective exchanges, encouraging the participant to speak openly without unduly influencing their opinions. Hayes (2000) highlights three skills as being imperative – “reflecting” repeating to the participant in different words what has just been said to confirm their opinion has been heard and understood; “amplifying” clarifying and broadening the scope of the interviewee’s comments; and “non-committal agreement”

encouraging the interviewee to continue talking without expressing the researcher’s views. As unstructured interviews are often similar to normal conversations and led by the participant’s experience it is important that they are audio-taped to capture the rich data produced.

As suggested by Burman (1999) a pilot interview was conducted prior to beginning the study. As a result of this interview the researcher learnt to listen carefully to the woman and not talk before the participant had finished her line of reasoning or to pre-empt her conclusions. A simple interview schedule was constructed that had the initial “grand tour” question and some

basic questions (Low, 2007) (Appendix Three). The interviews were however participant led, the schedule only referred to, in order to ensure that the interview remained focused on the research question.

Participants

The sample for the study consisted of ten women (Table 2, No. 2 – 11) in the third trimester of pregnancy (27 – 40 weeks gestation), five primigravid (pregnant for the first time) and five multiparous (had already borne a viable baby) women, selected on an opportunity basis from women attending a

midwife led antenatal clinic at a General Practitioner Maternity Unit. The women were aged from 21 – 36 years old. Six were graduates; two-held work based professional qualifications and two-left school at 16 years of age.

Seven of the participants were employed outside the home in professional capacities and three described themselves as housewives.

Participant 4 although multigravid (already been pregnant at least once) was for the purpose of the investigation considered a primigravida, as her first pregnancy was terminated at eight weeks gestation and this was therefore the first time that she had experienced a developing and viable pregnancy. Interviewee 1 did not form part of the study sample, with consent she was interviewed as a “pilot” to test and develop the researcher’s skills in

Table 2: Participant Demographic Information (Interviews)

Graduate Married 10 years Owner occupier

Example – (No. 3 above) G4P3 = pregnant for the fourth time, with three viable children

Procedure

Primigravid and multiparous women within their final trimester of pregnancy were invited to participate in the study, following their routine antenatal examination at an antenatal clinic held at a Midwife-Led Unit. The venue was chosen due to the calm and unhurried environment and the

availability of quiet and comfortable rooms in which to conduct the interviews confidentially. The setting for the research is important both to ensure a natural setting in which the participant feels comfortable and relaxed and also to ensure privacy, respecting the participant’s dignity.

The study was explained to the women, together with the time it would take to complete and the need to audiotape the conversation. The women who wished to participate were then taken to a quiet and private room. They were then given a detailed Patient Information Sheet to read which gave an

overview of the study; following this a consent form was given to them to sign if they wished to participate. Two women were interviewed within their own home as it was more convenient for them.

Following informed consent the audiotape was turned on and the interview commenced with personal details to categorise the women. The conversation was participant led and centred on the woman’s thoughts and feelings about the pregnancy and developing fetus. The interviews were unstructured, a grand tour question was used to stimulate the participant’s story with very basic prompts (Appendix Three) used only when necessary to stimulate further discussion. Each interview took approximately one hour.

Data Analyses

All interviews were audio taped and transcribed by the researcher. A copy of the transcript was given to the participant for verification, that as far as she could remember it was a true copy of the interview. This also allowed the women an opportunity to have any disclosure deleted if they

remember the transcript was a true copy of the interview. None of the participants wanted any information deleted from the transcript.

Transcriptions of the interviews were then analysed manually by the

researcher using the Glaser and Strauss (1967) constant comparative method.

Data analysis was iterative with data collection (Hayes 1998). Analysis proceeded systematically through eight stages (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: Stages in qualitative data analysis.

1.

Each interview was independently transcribed and then read in order for the researcher to become familiar with data (Figure 3, stages 1 & 2).

Facilitated by familiarisation the transcribed material was then broken down into chunks, each describing a separate idea or feeling, each was given in-vivo terms or descriptions (Figure 3, stage 3). The chunks were then open coded, each evolving concept was labelled in relation to context, meanings and

circumstances and put on to card to form an initial indexed system (Figure 3, stage 4).

Once the stage of Initial Coding was reached the Index Systems was separated into two – primigravid women’s responses and multiparous women’s responses. Following Initial Coding of all transcribed interviews Core Analysis began independently on the two separate indexes, with re-defining of the index system and development of concepts (Figure 3, stage 5). With

progressive conceptualisation, the analysis, integration and refinement of the data led to clusters of similar codes emerging to create primitive categories (Figure 3, stage 6). Primitive categories were then explored together, both primigravid and multiparous categories, looking for similarity and disparity leading to development and assimilation of the categories into nascent themes (Figure 3, stage 7). Conceptual saturation was reached when no new themes could be generated (Figure 3, stage 8), the data analyses having generated

the common and unique themes within the women’s experience of antenatal attachment.