Clinical Interviews in Educational Research: an analysis based on discourse progressiveness

Abstract: This paper probes into the ways interviewers need to improvise as they carry out clinical interviews that pursue data on the learning of Physics. The records used had been obtained previously and allowed to produce data of different quality for the study. Interventions are typified according to their function (Socialization, Empathy, Introduction and Focalizing). A more compelling analysis is achieved by incorporating the idea of discourse progressiveness and a model for carrying it out that has been developed by Marc Clarà. The study delivers results at two different levels. As for methodology, understanding is advanced on how certain modes of intervention allow interviewers to obtain more or less valuable data. As for discursive interactions, light is shed on some of their characteristics during interviews by taking input from theory developed to describe classroom discourse. Given the interactional similarities between both settings, our results could perhaps feedback into the study of classroom learning.