Published in

SAGE Publications, Field Methods, 2(17), p. 200-204, 2005

DOI: 10.1177/1525822x05274733

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Object and Walking Probes in Ethnographic Interviewing

Journal article published in 2005 by Jason Patrick De Leon, Jeffrey H. Cohen
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Probes and prompts are integral to successful interviews. Probes help motivate informants, facilitate the flow of an interview, and elicit information, but not necessarily in the form of a question. In this article, the authors describe a method they call the “material probe.” Material probes are nonverbal and include objects and places that prompt and motivate informants. The goal is not to learn about the object or place but instead to learn about the informant through the object or place. In essence, the “material probe” triggers a response or memory and can be used in specific and or general ways.