Participating in research as an interviewer
– a foster carer’s perspective
Colin Chatten
International Foster Care Organisation; Core Assets
colin_chatten@yahoo.com
Nikki Luke
Rees Centre for Research in Fostering and Education
nikki.luke@education.ox.ac.uk
Carer-interviewers
• The Rees Centre’s approach
• Working with carer-researchers
• Feedback from carer-researchers
• One carer’s experience
• Recommendations for researchers
Peer-researchers: The Rees Centre’s approach
• User groups are involved in the design,
implementation and analysis of research projects
• 22 foster carer-researchers recruited from local
authority and independent fostering service
providers
• In-house training in research interviewing
techniques
• Involved in three projects to date
• Quality assurance conducted at an early stage and
throughout transcription process
• A further 7 carers are awaiting training next
month
Working with carer-researchers
• Advantages of working with carer-researchers:
– ‘translating’ the research process for interviewees
– rapport with interviewees through shared understanding
– ability to recognise and follow up on interesting responses
• Challenges:
– matching carers to locations and services
– fitting in work around existing commitments
– being mindful of biases/assumptions/jargon
What has your experience been like working as an
interviewer on the peer support study?
I have really enjoyed engaging with foster carers and have
been privileged to listen to their experiences - the most striking
aspect of the interviews is that the foster carers are willing and
more importantly want their experiences to be heard - both
negative and positive to effect change for the better. (Sue)
I find I am better at the face to face interviews than the phone
interviews because the expressions of interviewees are easier
to read. I had to make sure they understood the questions so
they would give their own views. People’s answers to the
same questions can be completely different. (Theresa)
What has your experience been like working as an
interviewer on the peer support study?
The experience was interesting and uplifting because it was a
reminder of how many good people there are prepared to help
others. In a practical sense it was difficult because having three
placements at that time, the key moments for getting hold of
people were when my youngsters were around and needing
attention. (Jane)
I have found the experience enlightening and challenging. I
was not prepared for how welcoming the group of carers
would be when we arrived to carry out the interviews. (Colin)
What have you learned in the process?
I have learned that some foster carers don't feel they can
speak out about how they are being treated in case this has a
negative effect on their relationship with social services. Also
that the peer support set up is a very valued but patchy
service depending on where you live. Perhaps not surprising
that more rural areas are not as well served as cities however the need for support remains. (Sue)
I have learned to be patient when listening to the
interviewee’s interpretation of the question. Many
interviewees can use the session as a complaints
interview. I try to keep the interviewees on track with the
questions. (Theresa)
What have you learned in the process?
I learned that communication is not good between procurers
and foster carers. Foster carers seem to have a ‘jig-saw’
compilation of knowledge which is patchy. (Jane)
I have learned that there are many different ways to organise
and facilitate peer support groups for foster carers. (Colin)
Has anything surprised you?
In some instances foster carers were not kept in the loop
about placements especially when cancelled at the last
minute. Overwhelmingly from the interviews - the lack of
communication between social services or agency and the
foster carers was concerning. (Sue)
I interviewed some Asian carers and had to have an
interpreter as English was their second language and I have
a strong northern accent, however we managed! What
surprised me was the three way conversation between the
Asian carer, the interpreter and myself. I was also surprised
that two foster carers have met through a support group
and are now in a relationship. (Theresa)
Has anything surprised you?
I was surprised at how much empathy I felt for the foster
carers that I interviewed. (Colin)
How do you strike the right balance with your interviewees
between being a fellow foster carer and a researcher?
An interviewer’s role is to remain neutral, however the
interviewees are much more open if they feel you as the
interviewer has understanding of their frustrations with
systems. Striking a balance is showing that you empathise
whilst neither condoning nor supporting their view point.
(Sue)
It is difficult to strike a balance between being a foster
carer and a researcher but I tried to be as honest as
possible and put them at their ease. I try to keep on track
with the question and to be non-judgemental. Some of
them said they might be interested in becoming
researchers. (Theresa)
How do you strike the right balance with your interviewees
between being a fellow foster carer and a researcher?
It’s probably good for the foster carers to know that the
interviewer is a foster carer but for the interviewer to be up
front and say “I’m a foster carer myself so I have some
understanding of your experiences, but I am putting that aside
today and want to talk about you”. (Jane)
I had to consciously stay on topic in order not to start
discussing my own similar experiences and trying to help
them solve some of their challenges. I had a desire to veer
away from the interview into a peer to peer discussion. (Colin)
Colin Chatten
Colin Chatten
International Foster Care Organisation; Core Assets
colin_chatten@yahoo.com
Recommendations
Research teams seeking to engage service users as coresearchers should:
•Offer accessible training
•Give opportunities for practice-runs of interview schedules and
technology
•Provide early feedback
•Encourage listening over talking
•Discuss how much they can (and should) balance the tension in
roles
•Ensure they clarify jargon / ‘insider knowledge’ in recordings
•Regularly review commitments and have more co-researchers
than you think you will need