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Conjoint Research Interviews With Frail, Elderly Couples: Methodological Implications

Brandon University, racher{at}brandonu.ca

Joseph M. Kaufert, Ph.D.

University of Manitoba

Betty Havens, B.A., M.A., D.Litt.

University of Manitoba

In this phenomenological study, frail, rural elderly couples were interviewed as dyads. Couples participated in semistructured interviews and jointly constructed their responses. The elderly couple or dyad was the unit of inquiry, data collection, and analysis. The study sought to maximize the understanding of the couple as a unit as partners negotiated and constructed their responses. The method of data collection provided opportunity to observe the verbal and nonverbal interaction of the couple, the process used to construct the conjoint dialogue, and the content of the discourse. The couple conversation was richer in content and more effective in addressing the research question than were individual interviews. This article focuses on the methodological issues as they relate to the couple as the dyadic unit of research. Dialogue from the study illustrates the richness of the data gathered using this method.

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