Interviewing: the Basics (The Basics)

This text outlines the relative merits of qualitative interviewing to new and emerging scholars in an accessible way. This is achieved not by providing an exhaustive ‘how-to’ guide but in introducing researchers to the interview technique and using examples of ‘best practice’ from across the social sciences. To ensure the book is both accessible and inclusive, efforts have been made to include case studies from a diverse range of authors, including those from different ethnic and social backgrounds, from outside Western Europe/North America, and from non-academic sources. This book will therefore introduce the reader to the key themes surrounding interview design, implementation, analysis and presentation, using examples and case studies from research across the social sciences. Crucially, the book will not provide exhaustive guidance on how to conduct the techniques. Instead, each chapter includes a range of interview design activities for readers to try which might help them engage with the chapter topics, as well as a 'Summary' box which comprises a short annotated reading list of key texts relating to each of the chapter topics and a checklist of things to consider relating to the chapter topics.