Keeping the ‘quality’ in qualitative research: Embracing technology to enhance participation in qualitative interviews

Qualitative researchers seek to understand and explore human values, beliefs and experiences, including research participants' attribution of meaning to these factors. The topics under investigation often call for research participants to share their experiences of challenging and traumatic events. Participants in qualitative research may make themselves vulnerable when asked to share details of events and, potentially, relive the distressing emotions and feelings associated with the event.

Technology has changed how we do many things, and qualitative research is no exception. For qualitative researchers, the interview is a common data collection method. Ensuring the quality of interviews is essential for research rigour and the production of high-value knowledge (Cleary et al., 2014). Technology has increased the options for gathering the information or narratives that underpin qualitative research. Applying technology has also widened inclusion in research by supporting access and equity for research participation and enhanced participant autonomy. In this editorial, we consider technology and how it can be and is currently used in qualitative interviewing.