Evaluating the long-term impact of widening participation interventions: the potential of the life story interview

One of the key challenges facing those working in the field of widening participation is in determining the long-term impact of outreach interventions. Whilst there is value in considering the more immediate effect of such activity on participants’ experiences, it is long-term evaluation that can reveal the consequences of involvement on such schemes. However, in seeking to evaluate in this way practitioners face the problem of identifying suitable research methods. This article considers a qualitative method that has the potential to offer a long-term perspective: the life story interview. Using a pilot study based upon a small, purposive sample of undergraduates from widening participation backgrounds, the method is shown to be able to generate rich insights into the learner journey. However, its successful application is dependent upon the role of the interviewer and the quality of the conversations they are able to facilitate. Drawing upon evidence from the pilot study, and derived from the interviewer’s research journal and the interview transcripts, the practices that facilitate interviewee engagement are explored. The article concludes by reflecting on the comparative strengths of the life story interview, whilst also acknowledging its value as part of a mixed-methods approach.