Qualitative interviews: A methodological discussion of the interviewer and respondent contexts

Shannon M. Oltmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

124 Scopus citations

Abstract

Interviews are a staple method used in qualitative research. Many authors hold face-toface interviews to be the gold standard, or the assumed best mode in which to conduct interviews. However, a large number of research projects are based on conducting interviews via telephone. While some scholars have addressed the advantages and disadvantages of using telephones to conduct interviews, this work is scattered across multiple disciplines and lacks a cohesive, comprehensive framework. The current article seeks to rectify this gap in the literature, by explicitly developing the constructs of the interviewer context and the respondent context. By examining key components in each of these contexts, the qualitative interviewer can make an informed, reflective decision about the best interview mode to use for a particular project.

Original languageEnglish
Article number15
JournalForum Qualitative Sozialforschung
Volume17
Issue number2
StatePublished - May 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Inst. fur Klinische Psychologie und Gemeindepsychologie. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Face-toface
  • Interview
  • Qualitative research
  • Telephone

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Qualitative interviews: A methodological discussion of the interviewer and respondent contexts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this