Tools for in-depth interview to analyze inner motivation of reproductive, matrimonial, self-preserving and migration behavior[Инструментарий Для Проведения Глубинного Интервью С Целью Исследования Внутренней Мотивации Репродуктивного, Матримониального, Самосохранительного И Миграционного Поведения]

Today it has become especially relevant to study motivation of reproductive, matrimonial, self-preserving and migration behaviors from two perspectives: as independent types of behavior and as elements of the system of demographic behavior. It is caused by the demand from the Russian government to reach the targets of the national project “Demography” and to cope with the demographic consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, as a result of which 51 thousand people died in Russia (as of December 2020). The final impact of the pandemic on the birth rate and reproductive behavior transformation can be assessed later after the birth of the so-called “pandemic” children. The trends in reproductive, matrimonial, self-preserving and migration behaviors of Russians discussed in the article are revealed on the basis of data obtained in the all-Russian sociological study “Demographic well-being of Russia”, which made the basis for the national demographic report of 2020. This article provides an overview of different approaches to in-depth interview and the results of in-depth interview design used to analyze intrinsic motivation of reproductive, matrimonial, self-preserving and migration behaviors. The materials for the study include general provisions of research methodology and an interview guide, that is a manual for interviewers containing a number of questions aimed at revealing intrinsic motivation of reproductive, matrimonial, self-preserving and migration behaviors of parents having many children, childless couples, women who gave birth to children without registration of marriage, newly married couples who are planning to have children and supporters of childfree lifestyle (people who choose not to have children). Application of the method of in-depth interview to assess reproductive, matrimonial, self-preserving and migration behaviors of Russians significantly expands the methodology of all-Russian sociological study “Demographic well-being of Russia”, it identifies and analyzes unique cases and complicated situations having their impact on a person’s behavior, as well as their intrinsic motives and incentives that cannot be revealed with the help of other methods. The paper might be of interest to demographic experts and practical sociologists who are involved in development of qualitative research methods and other specialists responsible for making managerial decisions in the field of demography on the regional and municipal levels.