Academic Skills Human Geography and Spatial Planning

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Academic Skills Human Geography and Spatial Planning

Quotations from interviews

In our field, research is often conducted using interviews. In this section, we will discuss how to present quotations from interviews in your work. For information on selecting appropriate quotations, you should consult a book about research methods. One thing about the format before we get started: make sure that the quotations are easy to spot by presenting them on a separate line.

When including quotations, you should ask yourself two things:

  1. do I need to include the respondent’s comment verbatim or should I adapt the wording?
  2. what do I do if the respondent requests that their contribution be anonymous?

Both questions are discussed below.

It is customary to convert a respondent’s spoken words into formal language. You add punctuation, write out half sentences in full and correct grammatical errors. The aim is to make sure that the reader can understand the quotations.

However, researchers do not always reformulate quotations, for example if, in addition to the content, the way in which the respondent expressed him/herself is also important. Some researchers even indicate pauses in sentences to make sure the quotation is as natural as possible. In other words, it is up to you. If you adapt the respondent’s literal words, you should mention this in the methods chapter.

 Example

Formal language

‘There is no money to maintain the shell paths.’ Alderman for spatial planning on Ameland

Informal language

‘Well, uh, how can I put it. You know… there’s no money left.’ Alderman for spatial planning on Ameland

 

Sometimes word choice is important, as in the word ‘zoo’ below.

 Example

“In the summer, this park is like a zoo. I don’t mean literally. There aren’t any animals, just loads of different people.”

Respondent 11 (24 years old)

Ideally, a quotation should be provided with a source reference (for example, with the name, age and position of a respondent). After all, academics are expected to work as accurately and reliably as possible. However, this is not possible if you have promised the respondent that they will remain anonymous. You need to handle this carefully. You must not cause any harm to a respondent, who has given their time to participate in the research. The first thing you should do is omit the respondent’s name, but even that is not always enough. Sometimes, it might be possible to recognise a respondent by what they have said.

Hogenstijn and Van Middelkoop (2008) conducted research into the power relations among villagers. They decided to leave out respondents’ comments from their dissertation because other villagers would have known who said it (‘only one person could have said that!’). The respondents did not want to be confronted by their neighbours about the statements they made.

 Example

‘I have had an argument with neighbours. Mr and Mrs X wanted a new fence, but my wife and I thought it was much too high.’

Respondent 3 (man, 63 years old, Sterrenwijk)

 

Explanation

Here, the respondent and ‘Mr and Mrs X’ are anonymous. This ensures their privacy. Moreover, in this research into contact between neighbours it was not important to know who was involved exactly.

 

There is not one standard way to deal with quotations. When writing your own research report you should decide which approach is most suitable and explain your choices in the methods chapter.

For more information on how to use quotes from (academic) literature, click here and scroll to quotations.
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