Grasping the experience of the other from an interview: Self-transposition in use

Int J Qualitative Stud Health Well-being, 2013 · DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v8i0.20634 · Published: August 23, 2013

Mental Health Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

The article explores the often-unreported process of how an interviewer perceives the interviewee's message. It emphasizes that understanding human experience goes beyond simply listening to words. The researcher aims to reproduce the interviewee’s narration, not imposing their own voice. Transparency in the interview process can enhance validity. Heidegger’s concept of self-transposition is used to explore the interviewer's perception, suggesting that interviewers can gain insight by putting themselves in the interviewee's situation.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Seven partners to newly spinal cord-injured persons

Evidence Level

Philosophical Paper

Key Findings

1
The interviewer's perception is critical in understanding the interviewee's experiences beyond the spoken word, leading to richer, more abundant answers.
2
Self-transposition, or putting oneself in the other's situation, allows for a deeper understanding with a 'surplus of understanding' from the interviewer's perspective.
3
The interviewer's reflective process, including emotions, thoughts, and bodily reactions, is a valuable tool for justifying how human experiences are elicited in research.

Research Summary

The article discusses the importance of the interviewer's perception in grasping the experiences of others during an interview, going beyond simply eliciting data. It introduces the concept of self-transposition, drawing on Heidegger's work, to explain how interviewers can gain deeper insights by putting themselves in the interviewee's shoes. The study uses the example of an interview with the partner of a spinal cord-injured person to illustrate the interviewer's reflective process and how it contributes to understanding the interviewee's experiences.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Interviewing Techniques

Researchers can improve their interviewing by consciously practicing self-transposition to gain a deeper understanding of the interviewee's experience.

Increased Transparency in Qualitative Research

Researchers can enhance the transparency and validity of their findings by explicitly describing their own reflective processes and perceptions during the interview.

Improved Data Interpretation

Acknowledging the interviewer's subjective experience can lead to more profound insights and a more nuanced interpretation of qualitative data.

Study Limitations

1
The study focuses on a single interview example, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
2
The concept of self-transposition is abstract and may be difficult for researchers to operationalize in practice.
3
The study does not address potential biases that may arise from the interviewer's subjective experiences.

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