April 6, 2016
It’s a scarce resource that makes us more creative, alive, and able to communicate—but that most people are quick to give up when they actually get it. While they say it’s golden, nobody goes prospecting for it.
Some of life’s deepest truths can only be found in silence, yet it also makes many people uncomfortable, especially during conversation. The impulse to rush in and fill the gaps, however, makes it difficult to connect with other people. This is a real problem in qualitative research, one that can seriously compromise the learning.
An interviewer who is uncomfortable with long pauses in conversation subtly discourages some respondents from honestly and openly sharing their opinions with the researcher. Respondents whose communications styles are particularly sensitive to interpersonal dynamics are among the most at risk.
Some personality types and temperaments, for example, need silence to communicate effectively. While it is estimated that 75% of the population are extroverts who “think with their mouths,” the rest are introverts who need more time to collect and communicate their thoughts and feelings. By talking less and listening more, a moderator conveys a genuine interest in learning from these respondents. Such an environment encourages these respondents to say what’s really on their minds, rather than what they think the moderator wants to hear.
Respondents who feel like they have less social power or status than the researcher—including, and especially, children—are also more vulnerable to leading by the moderator. A moderator who rushes to fill any gaps in conversation is, in effect, exerting a form of social control by signaling that some styles of communication are “better” than others. Picking up on this, respondents may emotionally disengage from the conversation or feel devalued and disengage from the conversation, or simply agree and/or apologize and “try to do a better job.”
Finally, leaving space for silence is especially important when conducting research on sensitive or potentially embarrassing subjects. Respondents may interpret a moderator’s discomfort as a discomfort with, or lack of receptivity to, the thoughts and feelings elicited by the research. By recognizing and respecting silence, the moderator signals provides an open, accepting environment where they feel safe to express themselves.
Silence creates the space needed for deeper communication and learning to take place, for new ideas and perspectives to emerge. And that’s where the greatest treasures/value in qualitative research lies.