In-depth analysis is a research process that digs below the surface to uncover hidden gems of knowledge and information. It’s about transforming data into knowledge—making an impactful decision, theory, or discovery.
In-depth interviews (also known as semi-structured or unstructured interviews) provide a flexible interviewing method that can be used to gather rich, insightful data that isn’t always evident. They enable you to tune into your interviewee’s narrative, identifying unforeseen themes and gaining deeper perspectives on a topic.
This qualitative research method provides nuanced insights into individual experiences, but it comes with some limitations, such as limited generalizability and participants’ reluctance to open up in a group setting. These limitations are why it’s important to choose the right research methods based on your specific needs.
One strategy that can help you gain a more in-depth understanding of your evidence is to shift the question you’re trying to answer—for example, if you’re looking at evidence that supports language discrimination, you might switch the focus question to something like: What does this specific piece of evidence illuminate about the issue as a whole? Doing so will force you to think more critically about each paragraph and will keep your essay focused. This is a key step in developing an informed thesis statement and a well-structured essay.