Group discussions would allow for the development of ideas that might be missed by interviewers, especially if they are not local to the area. Focus groups may also prove to be a very effective method of report validation. In our study we had hoped that by providing specific place names that informants would better understand the question. However, specifically naming places, as we did, seemed to bring our prejudices, stereotypes and rivalries associated with these places. While several questions in the protocol seem redundant, it was found that this was often necessary to gain accurate data.
People respond in different ways to particular questions.
The seemingly redundant questions provided the interviewers with the opportinity to get to the essence of a matter through triangulation of questioning. The majority of informants were quite interested in knowing how and where the information collected would be utilized. It is recommended that interviewers, as we did, have a common and accurate answer for this important question. It is critical that there is consistency among multiple interviewers. A specific protocol and questionnaire assists with consistency, but does not ensure it.