Taxonomic analysis using structural questions and componential analysis using contrast questions were introduced by Spradley in Ethnographic Interview(1979). Despite potential usefulness of these research methods, they have not been used much by educa...
Taxonomic analysis using structural questions and componential analysis using contrast questions were introduced by Spradley in Ethnographic Interview(1979). Despite potential usefulness of these research methods, they have not been used much by educational researchers because the research methods presented by the book were regarded too complicated or difficult to be used by most readers.
The object of this study is to simplify taxonomic analysis and componential analysis so that only one structural question(substitution frame questions) and four contrast questions(contrast set sorting question, triadic contrast questions, directed contrast questions and rating questions) are necessary. Moreover, all interviews conducted for this study used a set of cards to write an answer for the substitution frame questions on each of the cards. The use of cards help interviewers to conduct interviews more effectively by allowing them to use same cards for different questions without confusion and by making informants feel more comfortable. With this approach, many informants were found to regard the interview as a game.
Through and action research, this study also developed a guidebook for researchers and teachers who want to use re-developed research methods. The first guidebook was developed in 2006 and has been refined continuously through several workshops, receiving feedback from participants in various occasions.