Successful interviews with people with intellectual disability

• Published in: Qualitative research : QR Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 153 - 170
• Main Author: Hollomotz, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.04.2018; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Data quality; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectually disabled people; Interpersonal communication; Interviews; Leisure; Photography; Physical disabilities; Risk; learning difficulties; social model of disability; inclusive research; concrete reference tools; learning disability; inarticulate subjects; qualitative interviewing; intellectual disability
• ISSN: 1468-7941; 1741-3109
• DOI: 10.1177/1468794117713810

People with intellectual disability who possess expressive language are able to participate successfully in qualitative interviews, providing the facilitator pays close attention to their communication preferences. This article considers the successes and flaws in interviewing techniques utilised in a study that invited twelve men and 17 women to talk about sex, risk, social and leisure life. Questions were posed in plain language and accompanied by concrete reference tools, namely picture cards and photo-story vignettes. Adjusting the depth of questioning in line with what a respondent wants to or can offer enhanced the quality of data obtained. The discussion highlights that interviewer’s actions may contribute to errors, which have previously been described in individualising terms as acquiescence, recency and unresponsiveness. The overall message of this article is that a responsive approach to each participant’s particular communication style, combined with avoidance of inaccessible question formats, are key ingredients of a successful interview.