Teacher Learning in a Community of Practice: A Case Study of ...

try to make sense oftheir worlds through interviews. Interviews provide an occasion to
present a reasonably rational image oftheir uncertainty (ibid.).
Often it may be very time consuming to wait for information to be generated in naturally
occurring situations. Some information might not be generated in naturally occurring
situations no matter how long the researcher waits. The interview therefore gives the
chance for particular questions to be asked that cannot be asked in any other situation.
This type ofsituation is reasonable for the use ofinterviews as long as the results are
treated with sufficient scepticism (Walford 2001).
Qualitative researchers involved in participant observation can be easily 'seduced' by the
tape-recorded interview. Participant observation can be a frustrating experience that
requires patience to sit and wait for data to be generated. In contrast, a tape-recorded
interview provides immediate 'hard' data in the "... soft, uncomfortably insecure and
always uncertain world ofqualitative research" (Walford 2001 :93). Delamont (2002: 122)
strongly supports the use of observational research as superior to other forms ofdata
collection methods, and declares:
I am totally convinced that observational data, gathered over a long period ofimmersion,
are superior to any others. The fashion for replacing proper fieldwork with either
unstructured interviews or focus groups or the collection ofnarratives... is thoroughly
bad. Such data are only interesting or useful to provide foreshadowed problems before
observation or extra insight after it. Proper fieldwork is time-consuming, interviewing is a
quick fix. Proper fieldwork is like a casserole: it should simmer for a long time at low
heat. Interviewing is a take-away chow mein; it lacks authenticity and does not satisfy for
long - 'data to go'.
With regard to transcribing interviews, there can be no firm rules about transcription
(Walford 2001). There is no need to fully transcribe more than a few interviews for any
research study. Researchers could listen to the whole of each tape using a tape player
with a counter. It is often more useful to conduct the analysis using the original tape
recordings rather than the transcripts (ibid.). The tape recording itselfis not an accurate
record ofa conversation, as even the most thorough transcription cannot capture the
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