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    The efficacy of interviewing young drug users through online chat

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Barratt, Monica
    Date
    2012
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Barratt, Monica J. 2012. The efficacy of interviewing young drug users through online chat. Drug and Alcohol Review. 31 (4): pp. 566-572.
    Source Title
    Drug and Alcohol Review
    DOI
    10.1111/j.1465-3362.2011.00399.x
    ISSN
    09595236
    School
    National Drug Research Institute (Research Institute)
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37326
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Introduction and Aims. Despite the fact that most young people who use ‘party drugs’ also use the Internet, accounts of drugs research involving qualitative interviewing using real-time instant messaging or online chat are yet to be published. This paper assesses the efficacy of conducting qualitative research interviews with young party drug users through instant messaging. Design and Methods. In 2007–2008, 837 Australian residents who reported recent use of psychostimulants and/or hallucinogens and participated in online drug discussion completed a web survey and a subsample of 27 completed online interviews (median age 21, range 17–37, 59% male). Results. Experienced drug users were more likely to volunteer to be interviewed than novices. The time and space flexibility provided by the online interviews was convenient; however, interviews were more prone to interruption. Establishing legitimacy, personal disclosure, appropriate linguistic style and humour facilitated the development of rapport and enabled the production of more detailed and in-depth data. These strategies were not successful in all cases and when unsuccessful, interviewees were more easily able to exit the interview by choosing not to respond. Discussion and Conclusions. Young drug users already using the Internet to chat about drugs find online interviewing an acceptable and convenient way to contribute to research. With adequate preparation to develop technical and cultural competencies, online interviewing offers an effective way of engaging with young people that is worthy of consideration by researchers in the alcohol and other drug field.

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