What is one way to encourage elaboration during interviews?

Encouraging elaboration during interviews is crucial for gaining deeper insights into participants' thoughts and experiences. By asking follow-up questions, the interviewer prompts participants to expand on their initial responses. This technique allows for clarification, exploration of ideas, and a richer understanding of their perspectives. When participants know that their brief answers can lead to further inquiry, they are more likely to provide additional context, which is essential for qualitative research.

In contrast, ignoring brief answers may lead to a loss of valuable information, as it does not prompt the interviewee to elaborate or clarify their thoughts. Limiting responses to one sentence restricts the richness of the dialogue and diminishes the opportunity for deeper answers. Lastly, focusing exclusively on closed-ended questions can shut down the conversation and limit responses to simple yes/no answers, which do not encourage participants to share their experiences in detail. Overall, asking follow-up questions significantly enhances the quality and depth of the information obtained during interviews.