Rapport, in the context of the social sciences, refers to the degree of comfort in the interactions between the researcher and the participants. When we think about rapport during interviews specifically, rapport allows interviewers and interviewees to exchange information more easily with each other. An easier way to understand rapport is to think about being “in tune” or “on the same wavelength” as the person you are talking to. Having good rapport simply makes communication easier by building an environment of trust and understanding (Zakaria & Musta’amal, 2014). To learn more about why rapport is important in social science research, take a look at this video titled “Rapport in interviewing” by the University of Amsterdam.
There are a few specific ways that you can build and maintain rapport in interviews:
For Example…
In their 2009 ethnography Righteous Dopefiend, researchers Philippe Bourgois and Jeffrey Schonberg follow the lives of a handful of individuals experiencing drug addiction and homelessness in the outskirts of San Francisco. Instead of approaching their subjects as damaged victims, they treat them like members of society, offer them car rides, and accept invitations to dinner. These behaviors establish deep rapport and allow them to gather compelling interview data (Bourgois & Schonberg, 2009).
If you’ve been successful in establishing good rapport with your participants you will be able to see a number of effects during the interview. These may include an increase in conversational flow, disclosure of sensitive information, relaxed body language, increased eye contact, and improvements in listening and response (Zakaria & Musta’amal, 2014).
But what about video or phone interviews?
Nowadays, conducting research through video or audio calls is a highly utilized method of obtaining interview data. If you are conducting your research in virtual settings, you may be concerned about building and maintaining rapport since you are not interacting directly with your participants. Not to worry! A 2017 study on video calls in qualitative research suggests that remote interviews can actually aid rapport in multiple ways. Participants may feel more at ease because of the perceived informality of the setting. In addition, the physical absence of the researcher can reduce the risk of embarrassment (Weller, 2017). Keep in mind, however, that during remote interviews there is less possibility for small-talk, less observation of non-verbal gestures, and increased likelihood of the participant going off track of the conversation (Weller, 2017). To promote the best possible rapport during remote interviews, try to use video technology that shows more than just your head in the frame. You can also begin with some small-talk as the interview starts, just as you would if you were meeting in-person. Finally, if your timeline allows for it, begin establishing a relationship with your participants prior to the remote interview.
The degree of rapport you have will vary from participant to participant. Some variables, shown below, will have an effect on your ability to build and maintain rapport.
Ethics Check!
There is a fine line between establishing good rapport and becoming too close with participants. You should strive to build an appropriate level of rapport while at the same time maintaining your position as a researcher. That being said, depending on the context, you may engage more closely with some subjects than you do with others.
Let’s revisit the study of drug users in Righteous Dopefiend by Philippe Bourgois and Jeffrey Schonberg. While they establish friendships with their subjects, they maintain critical boundaries. They do not engage with drug use themselves, nor do they interview subjects who are experiencing fits of withdrawal. They also respect their subjects’ privacy and refrain from visiting them either early in the morning or late at night.
Personal Project
Consider the variables related to rapport that have just been discussed. With your own project in mind, do you think you will have an easy or difficult time establishing and maintaining rapport? If you predict that this might be somewhat of a challenge, use this time to brainstorm ways that you can improve your rapport. What will make you and your participants most comfortable in the interview setting? What topics can you make small talk about prior to the interview? Go over the language used in your questions and make sure it is worded simply and clearly for your participants.
