Becoming a Qualitative Researcher: A Narrative Account of Conducting My First Qualitative Study Involving In-depth Life History Interviews

Despite a wide range of literature on research methodology, first time researchers encounter practical and methodological challenges. This paper provides insights to first time researchers interested in qualitative research. The paper discusses how as a first time qualitative researcher I managed to work within a challenging context to explore livelihoods situation of low-income young women in urban Botswana. Data collection was based on a combination of methods involving in-depth life history interviews, standardized open ended questionnaires, observations, photo elicitation, and a variety of documents. Data analysis and reporting of the findings were based on thematic narrative approach. Although the study did not give priority to any of the methods used, in-depth life history interviews were both challenging and informative to me as a first time qualitative researcher. Conducting a qualitative study that involved life history interviews with young women in my own community was a delicate process which required me to be both flexible and reflexive.