Must be an expert in qualitative research. No exceptions. Work has been done, just have to proofread and make adjustments accordingly.

Assignment 1: The Interview

January 12, 2019

Research Question

How do legal professionals describe their experiences with misinterpreted eye witness testimony?

Type of Approach

The phenomenological approach is a qualitative approach that captivates the human subjective experience. Additionally, the aim of phenomenological is to see things through the perspective of the people experiencing an event. It is essential for a greater emphasis to be placed upon the interpretation of experiences. Professionals and researchers take a critical position when it comes to qualitative studies in order to conquer resolutions based upon experiences (Davidsen, 2013). It is essential to capture details when it comes to dealing with lived experiences. Researchers have known to be hesitant to focus too intently on specific steps when it comes to the phenomenological approach. Field notes can be especially important in efforts to clarify the interview setting. Furthermore, it is exceptionally important to be communicate verbally and nonverbally during the interview setting in order to captivate the reality of the situation. Also, the phenomenological approach is an approach that entails a method that is associated with trial and error (Groenewald, 2004).

It is essential to capture the core of the subjective experience when it comes to eye witness testimony because it is truely a subjective experience and should be approach as one. Additionally, it is important for the eye witness testimony studies to obtain the clarity of the experiences. There are so many misconceptions when it comes to the applicability of the subjective experience; this is why it is so important to be careful during the interviewing process. The phenomenological approach allows the interview questions to be conducted in a flow that is consistent with an opportune conversational flow; this conversational flow allows for a more in-depth approach (Dalby, 2007).

Participant Recruitment

There are many approaches that I would use during the recruitment process. Recruiting participants can be a challenging and daunting task and requires careful. I would start my talking to my family and acquittances. I would talk to them personally via telephone explaining that I am a conducting a research project and would like to have further assistance. Also, I would also use emails as a method of recruiting participants. Additionally, I would distribute flyers, and posters in efforts to recruit participants for my study. However, I would distribute flyers at my workplace as well as the community programs where I volunteer. However, it is important for participants for to meet the inclusion criteria without violating Walden University’s IRB requirements for selecting participants. Furthermore, it is best to communicate effectively when it comes to recruiting participants in efforts to selecting the right participant in order to carry out the intended purpose of the study. In order to prevent biases, it is imperative to be as objective and not implement personal opinions into the study.

Invitation 

I am conducting a study in order to develop my skills as a researcher. I am seeking out participants in order to gain a better understanding of the human experience by participating in a survey as well as interview questions in accordance with the topic of research I am conducting. The topic entails legal professionals and how they would describe their experiences with eye witness testimony that is misinterpreted. I am going to enclose all the necessary information in order for my participants to review in order to have a more beneficial study. I am seeking family, and acquaintances in order to participant as a part of my assignments. In addition to the invitation, I will send you an informed consent statement as well as the interview questions and surveys. This interview that is conducted in person, email, or by telephone. The whole interview should take no more than 90 minutes. The interview is subject to be an audio recording in order to capture for educational purposes. The deadline for this project is January 15, 2019. You are not in any way obligated to participate in this interview and there are not any risks involving if you choose to take part in this study. 

IRB Verbatim Informed Consent for Practice Interviews 

You are invited to take part in an interview for a research course that I am completing as part of my doctoral program.  The purpose of this interview is to help me hon by interviewing and data analysis skills. 

Interview Procedures 

I am requesting that your permit me to conduct an audio-recorded interview for about 60 minutes. Transcriptions of interviews will be analyzed as part of my course. Copies of your interview recording, and transcript are available from me upon request.

Voluntary Nature of the Interview  

The interview conducted is voluntary. If you decide to take part now, you can still change your mind later. 

Risks and Benefits of Being Interviewed 

Being in this interview, will not pose any risks beyond those typical of daily life. There is no benefit to you.

Privacy 

Interview Recordings and full transcripts will be shared with each interviewee, upon request. Transcripts with identifiers redacted will be shared with my university faculty along with my analysis.  The interview recording and transcript will be destroyed as soon as I have completed my course. 

Contacts and Questions 

If you want to talk privately about your rights as an interviewee, you can call Dr. Leilani Endicott. She is the University’s representative who can discuss this with you.

Please share any questions or concerns you might have at this time. If you agree to be interviewed as described above, please reply to this email with the words, "I consent."

IRB Verbatim Informed Consent for Practice Interviews (PDF).

Introductory Statement

We are preparing to do an interview regarding the experiences that you had as a legal professional. It is important to conduct a pre-screening in order to adequately conduct the interview. The purpose of this interview is to capture the essence of the subjective experience by having legal professionals describe their experiences with misinterpreted eye witness testimony. This interview could be beneficial in allowing me to further develop my analysis skills. It is important to develop by analytical skills because I will be a greater asset to society by implementing social change.

Interview Guide 

1. What enjoyable moments have you had in your legal professional career?

2.  Based on the number of years you have been a legal professional, do you feel this has helped you understand the misinterpretation of eyewitness testimony?

3. Describe the types of situations you have encountered with the misinterpretation of eye witness testimony?

4. How has the lack of experience in an area hindered you from understanding the misinterpretation of testimony?

5.  Tell me about you were wrong regarding the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

6.  Tell me about how you were right regarding the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

7. Describe your legal experience when it comes to problems associated with eyewitness testimony regarding the inability to recall specific events of the crime?

8.  How would you describe the confidence level of eyewitness testimony that had proven weaknesses in their testimony regarding memory recall?

9. Describe how the eye witnesses demonstrated inconsistencies during cross-examination when it comes to how the eye witnesses recalls the events of the crime?

10. In your experiences as a legal professional, how would you describe intentional and unintentional representations of the recall of events when it comes to eye witness testimony?

11. In your experience, how would you describe the strengths and weaknesses regarding the accuracy of recalling the events of a crime?

12. Describe your experiences regarding how eye witnesses did not describe the criminal accurately in a lineup?

13. How would you describe the confidence level of the eye witnesses when a suspect is found to be wrongfully acquitted or wrongfully convicted?

14. What do you think are contributing factors that interferes with the eyewitnesses’ ability to accurately identify a suspect in a line up?

15. In your experiences, how would you describe experiences when the eyewitnesses’ testimony is not consistent to the person they identified in the line up?

16.  When conducting eyewitness interviews, how would you describe the setup of interview questions?

17.  In your experience, what are the routine questions that are generally conducted during the interview?

18. In your experience, how would you describe the effectiveness of the interview questions that are implemented from the eyewitnesses?

19.  In your experience, how would you describe the patterns that emerge from the interview questions from the eye witness in which you suspect deception is present?

20. Is there anything else you would like to add when it comes to your experiences with problems associated with eyewitness testimony?

Potential Survey Questions 

1. Are you male or female?

2. How old are you?

3. State your education

4. What is your area of area of expertise?

5. What is the specific title of your occupation as a legal professional?

6. How many years of experiences have you had as a legal professional?

7.  What types of crime are you most experienced in dealing with?

8. What would you consider your strengths in your legal professional experience?

9. What would you consider your weaknesses in your legal professional experience?

Closing Statements

Thanks for your participation in this interview. If there is anything that you would like to share, now is the time to do it.  I appreciate the answers that you have given today, and I will thoroughly go over the answers. Thank you for allowing me to interview you regarding your professional experiences. I believe this information will help be regarding the implementation of social change. Transcripts are available upon request. Please contact me by email or by phone if you have any further questions or concerns.

Debriefing Statement

Upon conclusion of the study, debriefing is required after the interviewing processed is ceased. Debriefing by peers is extremely important regarding the implementation and evaluation of the research process. Furthermore, it is important for feedback to be provided when it comes to the credibility and validity of the study. Additionally, it is important for the debiefer to review the collection process and concurrent data analysis. In order to conquer the debriefing process, it is important for the process to have subjectivity. Also, it is important for additional knowledge and skills to be applicable to the process in order to give appropriate constructive feedback (Spillet, 2003).

References

Dalby, J. T. (2007). On the Witness Stand: Learning the Courtroom Tango. Canadian Family

Physician, 53 (1), 65-70.

Davidsen A. S. (2013). Phenomenological Approaches in Psychology and Health Sciences.

Qualitative Research in Psychology, 10(3), 318-339.

Document: IRB Verbatim Informed Consent for Practice Interviews. (PDF).

Groenewald, T. (2004). A Phenomenological Research Design Illustrated. International Journal

of Qualitative Methods, 3 (1), 42-55.

Spillet, M. (2003). Peer Debriefing: Who, What, When, Why, How. Academic Exchange

Quarterly, 7 (3), 56-63.