Dyadic and Triadic Interviewing Techniques in Qualitative Research: Theoretical Underpinnings and Methodical...

Area of Science:

• Qualitative Research Methods
• Social Sciences
• Health and Social Care Research

Background:

• Increasing complexity in care and decision-making necessitates methods beyond individual interviews.
• Relational dynamics and collaborative decision-making are central in health and social care.
• Existing qualitative methods may not fully capture group interactions and co-constructed meanings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss dyadic (two-person) and triadic (three-person) interviewing as distinct qualitative data collection techniques.
• To highlight the value of these methods in capturing nuanced meanings and interactions.
• To provide clarity for their improved uptake in research.

Main Methods:

• Methodological discussion of dyadic and triadic interviewing.
• Theoretical underpinnings include interpretivism, social constructivism, and symbolic interactionism.
• Considerations include recruitment, ethics, power dynamics, saturation, and unit of analysis.

Main Results:

• Dyadic and triadic interviews illuminate individual thought and collaborative meaning-generation.
• These methods capture how participants think together, generating nuanced shared meanings.
• Challenges include logistical complexity, ethical risks, and the need for skilled moderation.

Conclusions:

• Dyadic and triadic interviewing techniques are vital in qualitative studies, especially in health and social care.
• They offer insights into individual agency, power dynamics, and cultural norms through co-constructed narratives.
• These approaches provide richer data than individual interviews or focus groups alone.