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Member rate £492.50
Non-Member rate £985.00
Save £45 Loyalty discount applied automatically*
Save 5% on each additional course booked
*If you attended our Methods School in July/August 2023 or February 2024.
Monday 6 August - Friday 10 August
09:00-10:30 / 11:00-12:30
Qualitative expert interviews are one of the most popular research methods in political and social research, yet often due to a lack of critical understanding run a risk of misrepresentation and under-theorisation of data. This course aims to (1) develop an in-depth understanding of (expert) interviews; (2) train participants in practical interview design and data generation process; and (3) demonstrate approaches to interview data management. Theoretical discussion covers philosophical assumptions, methodological underpinnings, scientific criteria, ethics and reflexivity in interview research. A special focus of the course is on practical considerations and training in designing and conducting expert interviews, including sampling, gaining access, framing questions, managing interactions and using technology. We explore the influence of contextual factors and relationships between an interviewer and interviewees on data generation. The course concludes with an overview of interview data management approaches and preparation of ‘raw’ data for analysis; however, it does not focus on data analysis as such.
Tasks for ECTS Credits
Alenka is Senior Lecturer at the University of Stirling. She holds a PhD in Sociology-Communication Sciences from the University of Ljubljana.
She has extensive international experience in interview research and teaching, and has been an ECPR Instructor since 2008.
Her research interests are in public relations, health and political communication, with a focus on academic development, gender, loss and intersections between media and politics.
designed for participants with little or no experience in qualitative interviewing, but also suitable for experienced researchers who wish to further develop their understanding of and reflect on their interview knowledge, experience and skills.
The course begins with the introduction to scholarly approaches, paradigms, and traditions surrounding interview research. Different types and forms of interviews are discussed with a focus on expert interviews as one of the most common interview methods in political and social research. According to European (German) research tradition, expert interviews (which by definition use experts as a form of information source) can be seen as a separate method and should not be confused with other forms of interviews, particularly elite interviews. We draw on the assumptions of sociology of knowledge to define ‘experts’ and distinguish them from ‘elites’, ‘specialists’ and other social actors. The questions, such as who is an expert, what characteristics constitute an expert, and what constitutes expert knowledge and distinguishes it from other types of knowledge are discussed. Drawing on principles and meanings of concepts ‘expert’ and ‘expertise’, the specifics, risks and ethical dimensions of expert interviews as well as their broader function as a source of knowledge production are addressed. The typology of expert interviews, which can be divided to exploratory interview, systematising interview and theory-generating interview, and their implications for data generation and analysis are discussed.
As other qualitative methods, interviews do not just have data at their disposal; they need to generate it. At this central stage of the course, we move from general theoretical concepts to concrete and practical discussion of interview design and data generation. The practical methodological discussion begins with a thorough consideration of sampling strategies and gaining access. The ethical issues involved in the two processes are addressed. We examine different qualitative sampling strategies, including convenience sampling, purposive sampling, theoretical sampling, and snowball sampling. The latter is of a particular importance in expert interviews, as it has a potential to effectively overcome the difficulties with gaining access to an extended circle of respondents and reach a saturation principle. To experience the unpredictable and complex process of gaining access, the participants engage in a practical exercise, in which they strive to persuade potential interviewees to participate in their research project.
Prior to conducting interviews, the course addresses the importance of fieldwork preparation strategies, including designing an interview guide, framing interview questions, designing an information sheet and a consent form, and thinking through potential effective enquiry and response strategies. To prepare for an interview comprehensively, we need to be familiar with stages of interview interaction, our participants and the roles they are likely to play, language likely to be used, perceptions likely to be formed, and relationships likely to be developed. Since the interviewer and the relationship with the interviewee are crucial to the method, we need to be conscious of key interview skills, qualities and responsibilities. From research preparation strategies, we move to the examination of the interview as a conversational, face-to-face social interaction, which is – like any other form of interaction – influenced by many factors that require careful examination in the research process. Variety of socio-demographic, personal, cultural, gender and other factors inevitably influence the type of information revealed and knowledge communicated. In addition, complex issues of relationships, power, social inequality, truth and inter-subjectivity come to the surface in interview situations. Another important element to consider in terms of influencing data generation is the use of technology (particularly recording equipment, tablets, phones, computers and software) in recording and storing interview data. If these factors are acknowledged, carefully considered, and systematically managed, then the data generation process can be significantly enhanced. In the opposite case, they have a potential to significantly hinder or even jeopardise the research process. Following from this discussion, the participants prepare an interview guide and conduct ‘real life’ interviews with peers and an expert. Based on these interviews, they write interview protocols and transcripts. Drawing on their interview and transcription experience, they are expected to identify interactional factors of influence and critically evaluate their impact on quality of generated data.
After the interview exercise, attention is turned to the most ignored requirement of good qualitative research: handling what comes as generated data. The qualitative data is in its essence voluminous, rich, complex, contextualised and as such overwhelmingly messy regardless of how organised the research process is. In the light of this, we examine different approaches to interview data management, which are the key requirement for efficient data analysis. While this course does not offer a comprehensive view of qualitative data analysis, it provides an introduction to the principles and practice of data management and analysis preparation. Guidelines and implications of transcribing or ‘translating’ the generated data from speech to text are discussed. Common steps from this form of ‘raw’ to ‘analysable’ data are outlined. We will emphasise that the data management (and consequently analysis) approach mainly depends on the research purpose, questions and the interview type. We briefly address the issues related to ethical data handling, coding strategies, plurality of interpretations as well as risks and consequences of invalid understanding. The strengths and limitations of traditional ‘by hand’ vs. computer assisted qualitative data management are discussed. The participants are briefly introduced to NVivo software for qualitative data analysis with an emphasis on possibilities it offers for interview data management process.
The course concludes with critical reflection on interview research. We adopt ethical theory to summarise and (re)consider the ethical risks and dilemmas emerging from interview research, and transactional theory to examine the role of reflexivity, critical self-assessment, researcher’s influence on the research process and ‘truthfulness’ of data. Current methodological debates evolving around interviews and their quality assurance are reviewed. Special emphasis is devoted to strengths, risks and limitations of interviews research as well as the concepts of validity, reliability and generalisability and their different meaning and understanding in qualitative and quantitative traditions.
The course offers solid theoretical knowledge of qualitative expert interviews and data generation processes with an emphasis on theoretical application and development of interview skills through practical experience, including designing interview research, fieldwork preparation strategies, conducting interviews and data management. The course also provides a comprehensive foundation for participants who wish to pursue ECPR Sumner/Winter School courses on qualitative data analysis.
Day | Topic | Details |
---|---|---|
1 | Introduction to expert interviews |
Introductory session (30 minutes):
Lecture (90 minutes):
Workshop (60 minutes):
Assignment: An overview/examples of interview research in your field |
2 | Interview design and field preparation strategies |
Lecture (60 minutes):
Workshop (120 minutes):
Assignment: Preparation of interview guides for interviews with peers |
3 | Art of interviewing: Interview as a social interaction |
Practical discussion (30 minutes):
Lecture (90 minutes):
Practical exercise (60 minutes):
Assignment: Write an interview protocol and critical reflection |
4 | Qualitative data management: from ‘raw’ texts to analysis |
Practical discussion (30 mins):
Lecture (60 minutes):
Practical exercise (90 minutes):
Assignment: Interview transcript |
5 | Critical reflection on interview research |
Workshop (90 minutes):
Lecture and discussion (90 minutes):
Summative assignment: Expert interview report and critical reflection |
Day | Readings |
---|---|
1 |
Compulsory: King and Horrocks, 2010, Chapter 2 (pp.6 – 25), Philosophical assumptions Yeo et al. (in Ritchie et al.), 2013, Chapter 7 (pp. 177 – 210), In-depth Interviews Littig (in Bogner, Littig and Menz), 2009, Chapter 4 (pp. 98 – 113), Interviewing the Elite - Interviewing Experts: Is there a Difference? Recommended: Denzin and Lincoln (in Denzin and Lincoln), 2011, Chapter 1 (pp. 1 – 20), Introduction: The Discipline and Practice of Qualitative Research Ormston et al. (in Ritchie et al.), 2013, Chapter 1 (pp. 1 – 26), The Foundation of Qualitative Research Borer and Fontana (in Gubrium et al.), 2012, Chapter 3 (pp. 45 – 60), Postmodern Trends: Expanding the Horizon of Interviewing Practices and Epistemologies Meuser and Nagel (in Bogner, Littig and Menz), 2009, Chapter 1 (pp. 17 – 42), The Expert Interview and Changes in Knowledge Production |
2 |
Compulsory: King and Horrocks, 2010, Chapter 3 (pp. 25 – 41) & 7 (pp. 103 – 124), Designing an interview study; Ethics in qualitative interviewing Fujii (2018), Chapter 3 (pp. 35 – 52), Selecting, Framing, and Approaching Interviewees Ritchie et al. (in Ritchie et al.), 2013, Chapter 5 (relevant pages 111 – 138), Designing and Selecting Samples Recommended: Rapley (in Flick), 2014, Chapter 4 (pp.49 – 63), Sampling Strategies in Qualitative Research Obelené (in Bogner, Littig and Menz), 2009, Chapter 8 (pp. 184 – 200), Expert versus Researcher: Ethical Considerations in the Process of Bargaining a Study Christians (in Denzin and Lincoln), 2011, Chapter 4 (pp. 61 – 80), Ethics and Politics in Qualitative Research Dexter, 2006, Chapter 2 (pp. 31 – 71), Suggestions for Getting, Conducting and Recording an Interview |
4 |
Compulsory: Kowal and O’Connell (in Flick), 2014, Chapter 5 (pp.64 – 79), Transcription as a Crucial Step of Data Analysis King and Horrocks, 2010, Chapter 9 (pp. 142 – 174), An introduction to interview data analysis Kvale and Brinkmann, 2008, Chapter 10 (pp. 177 – 188), Transcribing Interviews
Recommended: Spencer et al. (in Ritchie et al.), 2013, Chapter 10 (pp. 269 – 294), Analysis: Principles and Processes Spencer et al. (in Ritchie et al.), 2013, Chapter 11 (pp. 295 – 346), Analysis in practice Roulston (in Flick), 2014, Chapter 20 (pp. 297 – 313), Analysing interviews Bogner and Menz (in Bogner, Littig and Menz), 2009, Chapter 2 (pp. 43 – 80), The Theory-Generating Expert Interview: Epistemological Interest, Forms of Knowledge, Interaction Fontana, Chapter 6, 2007 (pp. 69 – 76), Framing and Interpreting Interview |
3 |
Compulsory: King and Horrocks, 2010, Chapter 4 (pp. 42 – 60), Carrying out qualitative interviews Fujii, 2018, Chapter 2 (pp. 12 – 34) & 4 (pp. 53 – 72), Building Working Relationships; Strategies for Conducting Interviews Warren (in Gubrium et al.), 2012, Chapter 8 (pp. 129 – 142), Interviewing as Social Interaction Johnson and Rowlands (in Gubrium et al.), 2012, Chapter 6 (pp. 99 – 114), The Interpersonal Dynamics of In-Depth Interviewing Recommended: Pfadenhauer (in Bogner, Littig and Menz), 2009, Chapter 3 (pp. 81 – 97), At Eye Level. The Expert Interview – a Talk between Expert and Quasi-expert Herzog (in Gubrium et al.), 2012, Chapter 13 (pp. 207 – 218), Interview Location and Its Social Meaning |
5 |
Compulsory: King and Horrocks, 2010, Chapter 7 & 8 (pp. 125– 141), Reflexivity in qualitative interviewing Silverman, 2010, Chapter 15 (pp. 268 – 291), Quality in Qualitative Research Maxwell and Chmiel (in Flick), 2014, Chapter 37 (pp. 540 – 554), Generalization in and from Qualitative Analysis Lewis et al. (in Ritchie et al.), 2013 Chapter 12 (pp. 347 – 366), Generalising from Qualitative Research Recommended: Finlay (in Gubrium et al.), 2012, Chapter 22 (pp. 317 – 332), Five Lenses for the Reflexive Interviewer Dexter, 2006, Chapter 6 (pp. 115 – 131), Toward a Transactional Theory of Interviewing: Self-Assessment in the Interview Process May and Perry (in Flick), 2014, Chapter 8 (pp.109 – 123), Reflexivity and Practice of Qualitative Research Mertens (in Flick), 2014, Chapter 35 (pp. 510 – 524), Ethical Use of Qualitative Data and Findings |
The participants are recommended to install QSR NVivo 11 on their laptops (free trial version can be downloaded for the period of 14 days for Mac and Windows from the QSR website: http://www.qsrinternational.com/nvivo/nvivo-products).
It is recommended for participants to bring their own laptops, audio recorders or smart phones (with audio recorder applications) and headphones. This equipment is needed for recording, listening to, transcribing and evaluating interviews in practical exercises and assignments.
Bazeley, P. (2007). Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.
Bazeley, P. & Jackson, K. (2013). Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.
Bogner, A. Littig, B., & Menz, W. (Eds.). (2009). Interviewing Experts. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, New York: Palgrave /MacMillan.
Denzin, N. K. (1989). The Research Act. A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods (3rd ed.). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2005). The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (3rd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA, London: Sage.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2011). The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.
Dexter, L. (2006). Elite and Specialized Interviewing. Colchester: ECPR Press.
Flick, U. (ed.) (2014). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Analysis. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.
Fontana, A. P. (2007). Interview: From Formal to Postmodern. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press.
Fujii, L. A. (2018). Interviewing in Social Science Research: A Relational Approach. New York, London: Routledge.
Gubrium, J. F., & Holstein, J. A. (Eds.). (2001). Handbook of Interview Research: Context and Methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Gubrium, J. F., & Holstein, J. A. (Eds.). (2003). Postmodern Interviewing. Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Gubrium, J. F., Holstein, J. A., Marvasti, A. B., & McKinney, K. D. (Eds.) (2012). The SAGE Handbook of Interview Research: The Complexity of the Craft (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.
Kezar, A. (2003). Transformational Elite Interviews: Principles and Problems. Qualitative Inquiry, 9 (3), 395-415.
King, N., & Horrocks, C. (2010). Interviews in Qualitative Research. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.
Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2014). InterViews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: Sage.
Mason, J. (2002). Qualitative Researching (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Mikecz, R. (2012). Interviewing Elites: Addressing Methodological Issues. Qualitative Inquiry 18(6): 482–493.
Moyser, G. & Wagstaffe, M. (Eds.) (1987). Research Methods for Elite Studies. London: Allen and Unwin.
Padfield, M., & Procter, I. (1996). The Effect of Interviewer’s Gender on the Interviewing Process: A Comparative Enquiry. Sociology, 30 (2), 355-366.
Richards, L. (2005). Handling Qualitative Data: A Practical Guide. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage.
Ritchie, J. & Lewis, J. (Eds.). (2003). Qualitative Research Practice. A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., McNaughton Nicholls, C. & Ormston, R. (Eds.) (2013). Qualitative Research Practice. A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: Sage Publications.
Roulston, K. (2010). Reflective Interviewing: A Guide to Theory and Practice. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: Sage.
Rubin, H. J. & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data (3rd ed.). London: Sage.
Silverman, D. (2010). Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook (3rd ed.). London: Sage.
Silverman, D. (Ed.). (2011). Qualitative Research: Issues of Theory, Method and Practice. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi: Sage.
Seidman, I. E. (1991). Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A Guide for Researchers in Education and Social Sciences. New York: Columbia University.
Strauss, A. L., & Corbin, J. M. (2008). Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures in Developing Grounded Theory (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage.
Weiss, R. S. (1994). Learning from Strangers. The Art of and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies. New York: The Free Press.
Wengraf, T. (2001). Qualitative Research Interviewing. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.
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