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26 - Interviews: Processes, Strategies, and Reflections

from Part VI - Qualitative Data Collection Sources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2024

By
Zoë B. Corwin  and
Jordan Harper
Edited by
John E. Edlund  and
Austin Lee Nichols
John E. Edlund
Affiliation:
Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Austin Lee Nichols
Affiliation:
Central European University, Vienna
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Summary

Interviews can shed light on how people make sense of their daily lives and their experiences with phenomena through the intentional exchange of questions and responses and thematic explorations. The process of preparing for, conducting, and wrapping up an interview requires a delicate dance in which both the researcher and the interview participant engage. Furthermore, decisions made during each phase of the interview process have significant implications for the trustworthiness of findings and the relationships between researchers and interview participants. In this chapter, we highlight key steps in the interview process that facilitate producing a high-quality interview, transcript, and related analyses and deliverables. We also consider new and emerging reflections that emphasize innovation, reciprocity, care, and critical knowledge.

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The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Volume 2: Performing Research
 , pp. 591 - 615
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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