2.3.1. Instrument

Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, lasting on average sixty minutes. The "aide memoir" was arranged so that participants could offer a flexible response and any emerging themes could be identified. The semi-structured approach facilitated emphasis being placed upon any points that warranted further focus or examination by the researchers. An example of the interview template is included in Appendix A. Interviewees were asked to give an example of a recent incident they were familiar with. The structure of the template, (a) probed process around reporting and (b) elicited the participants perception of learning from incidents within their organizations. Following on from the initial

contact on reporting, the participants discussed just culture, learning, root-cause and incident precursors during their individual engagements with the researchers.
