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Chapter 4 Research Method
were worn as this enabled the researcher to blend into the background and minimise
disruption. The researcher’s face was familiar to the residents and staff at this stage in
the research study, and thus it was hoped that the Hawthorne effect would be
minimised.
The observation break periods greatly helped and served to re-focus the researcher for
each observation period. The researcher felt that after a short time the staff did not
notice her presence and behaved as they normally would. One staff member did not
relax throughout the process and it was clear that she felt uncomfortable being
observed. The residents also adapted quickly and nodded, waved or smiled when the
researcher was in their range of vision, but largely did not try to engage in
conversation. At the end of each day’s observation the researcher thanked the staff for
their co-operation and participation.
This section has described the observation method and the next section will describe
the interview method.
4.9 Interview Data Collection
This section describes how interview data were collected in order to inform the case
study and further explore resident autonomy. A total of 30 semi-structured
interviews were conducted. This included 14 interviews with nursing staff, four with
healthcare assistants, one with support staff, seven with residents and four with
residents’ families (see Table 4.3).
Table 4.3: Number of interviews conducted
Nursing Staff Healthcare Support Staff Residents Residents’
Assistants
Families
14 04 01 07 04
The development of the interview guide, the pilot interviews and the subsequent
recruitment to and conduct of the research interviews will now be described.