Piloting A Qualitative Interview for Malaysia Primary School Active Learning Needs Analysis Regarding Learner Control Experiences

Abstract

This paper describes a holistic process of a pilot test to determine the trustworthiness of semi-structured interview questions to be used in the qualitative investigation of Malaysia primary school active learning needs analysis, by focusing on the learner control peculiarity in the context. The researchers carried out the pilot test based on a sequential cycle of determining, assessment, adjustment, revisiting, and reflection. The researchers generated semi-structured interview questions mainly based on Hutchinson and Waters’s (1987) framework for analysis of learning needs. The researchers tested the semi-structured interview questions on two teacher and two pupil participants mirroring the intended subjects in the field. The pilot test allows the researchers to practice beforehand the semi-structured interview techniques and provides valuable insights for the researchers to modify and improve the interview questions. Finally, this paper reports the modification or refinement made to the interview questions, which proves that the questions are readied to be used in future study. This paper also provides methodological insights for other researchers, who may also undertake qualitative interview methods in active learning studies.