Interviewing separately or as couples? Considerations of authenticity of method

Area of Science:

• Phenomenology
• Qualitative Research
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Human experience is coconstructed, with individuals making sense of their world from within it.
• The presence of a partner during interviews can influence participant experiences and descriptions.
• Understanding sexuality and intimacy within illness contexts requires nuanced methodological approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore people's experiences of sexuality and intimacy within the context of their illness.
• To present a reflexive discussion of two studies employing Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology.
• To exemplify the effects of joint versus one-to-one interviews on participant descriptions.

Main Methods:

• Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology was utilized.
• Two studies involving joint and one-to-one interviews were conducted.
• Extracts from interview transcripts were used to illustrate findings.

Main Results:

• Joint interviews can influence participant experiences and the descriptions they provide.
• One-to-one interviews may yield different descriptive data compared to joint interviews.
• Combining both interview approaches offers a richer understanding of phenomena.

Conclusions:

• Heideggerian philosophy provides a framework for understanding the merits and limitations of different interview methods.
• Neither joint nor one-to-one interviews are inherently superior; their utility depends on the research context.
• A combined approach to interviews can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of complex human experiences.