Page 227 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

of the Community Conversation sessions. In sociology and statistics research, snowball sampling

is a nonprobability sampling technique where existing study subjects recruit future subjects from

among their acquaintances. Thus the sample group is said to grow like a rolling snowball.

During the interview process, the concept of and ability to remain open was paramount to

my role as researcher. Openness, as described in the scholarly literature, involved the ability of me

as the researcher to remain unbiased and possess awareness of biases in others. Openness, as

described in the scholarly literature, involved the ability of me as the researcher to remain unbiased

and possess awareness of biases in others. As described, “neither the observer nor the observed

come to the scene [in this case a dialogue on biases] untouched by the world, however, researchers

are obliged to be reflective about what we bring to the scene, what we see, and how we see it”

(Charmaz, 2006, p. 15). Self-preparation, technically and emotionally, as recommended was

practiced throughout the research along with memoing about the research process and interactions

with participant volunteers. Later I will describe my IWILL approach based on current literature.

In preparation for each interview, I reviewed my notes from the deliberative dialogue

session associated with the attendance date for the interview volunteer and reflected on significant

observations, including participant interactions, tensions or disagreements the surfaced that

warranted discussion with the interviewee. During the interviews with participants and facilitators,

I endeavored to exhibit openness and respect for the interviewees’ time and participation by

arriving (whether in person or by way of the telephone) in a manner that was not hurried and

affording ample transition time between any prior engagements or activities and the interview.

This type of preparation permitted a high level of care, and full attention to the interviewee

and permitted engaged listening and careful attention to verbal cues and pauses during the one on

one interview just as I had observed similar interactions during the Community Conversation.

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