Pilot Interview Experience

As part of the research study titled Experience of Domestic Violence on Children of Durg,
Chhattisgarh, the pilot interview was conducted to test and refine the interview process
before the main data collection. The pilot interview served as a crucial step in evaluating the
effectiveness of the interview questions, ensuring that they captured relevant data, and
addressing any potential challenges related to participant comprehension and engagement.
The pilot also aimed to assess the overall flow, timing, and ethical concerns that could arise
during the formal interviews with participants who have experienced domestic violence in
their households.

The participant for the pilot interview was carefully selected based on criteria that matched
the study's focus. Her selection process involved a meticulous review of several potential
participants to ensure that their personal background and experiences would provide relevant
insights into the research questions being tested. The chosen participant had firsthand
knowledge of domestic violence within their household, making them an ideal candidate for
testing the appropriateness and depth of the interview questions. The participant is a
volunteer worker at an NGO that works in the field of domestic violence to return the favour
she thinks the NGO has done on her protecting her from domestic violence in her childhood.
She is now a primary school teacher. This has helped the researcher choose her to be the pilot
participant as she was exposed to the DV in her childhood and has the skillset to help the
interviewer in his pilot interview to finetune the interview guide, if needed. The interview
was conducted in the office of the NGO itself and most importantly was of her choice. It was
a quiet, private setting to facilitate open communication and ensure the participant's comfort
and confidentiality. Privacy was a key priority, as the subject matter involved emotionally
charged and potentially traumatic experiences. Prior to the interview, care was taken to ensure
that the room was free of interruptions, with a quiet atmosphere conducive to open and honest
communication. Such an environment is essential when dealing with topics related to
domestic violence, as it allows participants to speak more freely and without fear of being
overheard or judged. Before the beginning of interview, the participant was thanked
gratefully, and the atmosphere was kept relaxed to reduce any anxiety or nervousness they
may have felt. A brief informal conversation was initiated to build rapport and ease the
participant into the interview process. Establishing this connection was crucial, as it helped
create trust, which was particularly important for discussing sensitive topics. The participant
was reassured about the confidentiality of their responses, and the voluntary nature of their
participation was emphasized once again before the interview began. The interview was
structured with a semi-formal, conversational approach, allowing for flexibility in responses
while still adhering to the predetermined questions. This approach provided the participant
with the freedom to elaborate on certain points or move tangentially when discussing their
experiences. It was important not to rigidly follow the question list, as doing so might have
stifled the flow of conversation and limited the richness of the responses.

The interview consisted of open-ended questions, aiming to elicit detailed responses about
the participant’s experiences and emotions. This format was chosen to encourage the
participant to reflect deeply on their experiences rather than offering short, factual answers.
For instance, rather than asking "Did you witness any incidents of domestic violence?" which
might invite a simple yes or no answer, the question was phrased as "Can you describe any
incidents of domestic violence that you witnessed?" This slight change in wording
encouraged the participant to provide a more detailed account, exploring not only the event
itself but also the emotions, reactions, and consequences that followed. The questions ranged
from general background information to more sensitive topics related to domestic violence.
The interview lasted approximately 40 minutes, which was in line with the expected duration
for future interviews.

The flow of the interview began with general background questions, helping the participant
ease into the conversation before addressing the more sensitive and emotionally charged
topics. For example, the initial questions focused on the participant’s family structure and
daily life, which served both to gather important contextual information and to help the
participant feel more comfortable. As the interview progressed, the questions became more
focused on specific incidents of domestic violence, the participant’s emotional responses, and
the long-term impact these experiences had on their mental and emotional well-being.

The progression from general to specific questions was intentional, designed to avoid
overwhelming the participant at the outset. This gradual approach also allowed for natural
shifts in the conversation, helping the participant feel more in control of the narrative.
Throughout the interview, care was taken to maintain a conversational tone, with the
interviewer offering verbal and non-verbal cues (such as nodding or expressions of empathy)
to signal understanding and attentiveness. This helped build a sense of connection and trust
between the interviewer and the participant, which was critical for discussing sensitive
experiences.

The entire interview lasted approximately 40 minutes, aligning with the anticipated time
frame for future interviews. However, it was observed that certain sections, particularly those
exploring emotional and psychological effects, required more time than initially expected.
The participant took occasional pauses when recalling distressing events, which is natural in
such interviews. This allowed for reflection and provided the interviewer with an opportunity
to ask follow-up questions or clarify points when needed.

Throughout the interview, the participant was actively engaged, though some questions
required additional probing or rephrasing to ensure clarity. For example, when asking about
the emotional impact of witnessing domestic violence, the participant initially provided brief
responses, possibly due to the abstract nature of the question. Follow-up prompts, such as
"How did that make you feel at the time?" or "Can you recall any changes in your behaviour
after these incidents?" were used to guide the participant toward more in-depth reflection.

The interview was noted down in one of the copies of interview guide while a separate copy
was made available for the interviewee to read herself. This is an unorthodox approach, the
researcher has chosen to do since, in his earlier experiences in research, he has discovered
that participants in Chhattisgarh are curious about the research process, want to know more
about it as it all is very new to them. So, to channelise the curiosity as well as streamline the
interview, the researcher decided to provide a copy to the interview guide for the duration of
the pilot interview and later it was collected once the interview was over. Since the results of
providing the copy to the participants for the duration of the interview were very positive, the
researcher will employ this approach in his data collection process.

Ethical considerations were a priority throughout the process, with the participant being
reminded at various points that they could pause, skip questions, or stop the interview if they
felt uncomfortable. Additionally, at the end of the interview, the participant was asked if they
wished to add anything that had not been covered, ensuring they had full agency in the
conversation.

Mention verbal consent was taken

Also any insights on the tool used, any alteration needed to be made? Mention that
Keep aside, this will be added to the methodology chapter later

22 Aug 2024