Survey and interview methods in social sciences and humanities research

Young researchers listened to three speakers on the above topic: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh (Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Sociology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) and two foreign professors: Prof. Norifumi Namatame (Tohoku Fukushi University, Japan) and Prof. Michael DiGregorio.

In the beginning, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh shared an overview of the process and methods of scientific research; the role of data and ways of analyzing data in scientific research.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa (Vice Principal of the School) spoke at the training session.

According to him, when we talk about science and scientific research, we are talking about a form of truth but it must be based on evidence. Therefore, to do scientific research, it is necessary to base it on data. There are many methods of collecting and analyzing data, but in general, there are the following important methods: reading documents, observing, interviewing and surveying.

When starting a scientific research, researchers must clearly identify the research topic and problem. “When we realize the gap between what we know and what we want to know in the future, we can identify a social problem and from there we can build a research topic” - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh said.

Next, researchers need to do a research overview to see what their predecessors have researched in the field they are interested in and to find something new, not to repeat what others have done. From there, the author determines the research question and research hypothesis; designs the research content and implements the research plan in practice. When researching, the authors need to coordinate a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Among them, in-depth interviews and surveys are two very popular and basic methods in scientific research.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh presented the scientific research process and delved into two important data collection methods: in-depth interviews and surveys.

Sharing about in-depth interviews, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh said that there are two concepts about interviews. One is the concept that interviews are the process of exploiting data that the researcher needs and the interviewee has available. The second concept is that data is not only available in the interviewee but through the process of direct exchange and interaction, new information and data will arise. Data is created during the interview process. Sometimes, in the process of asking and deepening thinking, the author even discovers new directions, capturing more valuable information than originally intended.

In-depth interviews are both structured and flexible. To conduct an in-depth interview, the researcher must visualize the various aspects of the problem to design accurate questions. In addition, to have an effective interview and the author can exploit a lot of rich data, the conversation must take place as naturally as possible.

Professor. Norifumi Namatame(Japan)

The presentation also shares many skills to successfully conduct in-depth interviews such as how to ask logical questions, how to build a trusting relationship with the interviewee, how to approach and pursue information creatively, how to maintain a neutral point of view while asking questions, how to quote and use interview data in research, etc.

Emphasizing the important role of survey investigation in Sociology research in particular and in Social Sciences and Humanities in general, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh shared the requirements for setting up a questionnaire to ensure the collection of scientific data and appropriateness to the research content. These are the skills of constructing closed and open questions...; how to select a random sample representing a specific group of subjects; how to set up a questionnaire on a computer; how to analyze questionnaire data to see the correlation and causal relationship between variables...

Prof. Michael DiGregorio

Next, Prof. Norifumi Namatame (Japan) and Prof. Michael DiGregorio shared with the young cadres their practical experience in applying in-depth interview and survey methods to two specific research projects in Vietnam. These were two projects on: the impact of floods on the lives of farmers in some rural areas of Vietnam and the socio-economic impacts in localities with victims of Agent Orange during the war.