Walking Interviews: A Novel Way of Ensuring the Voices of Vulnerable Populations Are Included in Research

Abstract

Including the voices of clients who live with major mental illness is paramount if researchers are truly trying to understand their worlds, however, there are challenges to overcome. Living with major mental illness often affects a person’s ability to hold spontaneous conversation. A person may sit passively during a traditional talking interview, waiting for guidance on how to answer questions. To overcome these impediments alternative methods of data collection outside of the traditional qualitative interview should be used to facilitate dialogue while keeping the client safe. Walking interviews are a novel approach that can be used to overcome some of these challenges. The use of walking interviews (where the interviewer walks alongside the participant) as a method of collecting data is increasing. The walking interview also provides insights into the connections between the participant and their community. While sitting comfortably in a chair these connections may not easily be described. While walking alongside a participant in a familiar environment the interviewer can gain insight into a sense of alienation or connection the interviewee has with their community. Though mobile interviewing is still at the infant stage as a methodology, it does shed light on how individuals frame and understand the spaces and places they use in their lives. This chapter will explore the relevance of walking interviews when including vulnerable populations, such as clients within forensic mental health services, into qualitative research and provide insights into how this novel method can successfully be included into qualitative research.