While In-depth Interviews (IDIs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) are staples of qualitative research, expanding our methods can yield richer, more reflective data. Building rapport is essential for deep insights, which is often limited in one-off interviews. Repeat interviews, diary or audio log-keeping, and participatory tools like decision-making games and hypothetical scenarios help bridge the gap between what people say and do. These approaches allow participants to reflect more deeply, engage critically, and express themselves more freely. By creatively broadening our qualitative toolkit, we can better capture complex human experiences and move beyond surface-level responses to understand how people think, feel, and act in context.
