Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-sjtt6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-21T03:45:41.354Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

8 - INTENSIVE INTERVIEWING

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Paul S. Gray ,
John B. Williamson ,
David A. Karp  and
John R. Dalphin
Paul S. Gray
Affiliation:
Boston College, Massachusetts
John B. Williamson
Affiliation:
Boston College, Massachusetts
David A. Karp
Affiliation:
Boston College, Massachusetts
John R. Dalphin
Affiliation:
Merrimack College, Massachusetts
Get access

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In the last chapter on survey research, the focus was on asking the right questions and getting them put down on the printed page (or the Web-based medium) in a clear and concise way. Much of the research imagination employed in survey research occurs before data are actually collected and is apparent in the overall design of a survey, the operationalization of variables, and the wording of the specific questions to be asked. In this chapter, the focus is on intensive interviewing, a technique in which, by contrast, appropriate questions are often determined as data are being collected. This means that creativity and spontaneous decision making are integrated at every step of the research process. In this up-close, conversational technique, clarity of communication is a mutual effort between the researcher and those being studied.

Interviewing is increasingly well established as a methodological alternative that can help us explore what to ask and how to ask it. Sometimes such information is used only to formulate structured questionnaires for surveys, but interviews are also immensely valuable in their own right. There are many research challenges for which intensive interviewing is the ideal investigative technique. Let us look at one example. Beyond a few memoirs (Delong and Petrini, 2001; A. C. Gray, 2003), not much is known sociologically about female crime-fighters – private investigators, police detectives, and FBI agents. We do know that relatively few women engage in these traditionally male-dominated occupations. How could we study them?

Type
Chapter
Information
The Research Imagination
An Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
 , pp. 151 - 178
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Atkinson, Robert. 1998. The Life Story Interview. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gubrium, Jaber F., and James, A. Holstein. 2001. Handbook of Interview Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Connor, Henrietta, and Madge, Clare. 2001. “Cyber-Mothers: Online Synchronous Interviewing using Conferencing Software.” Sociological Research Online 5 (4). http://www.socresonline.org.uk/5/4/o'connor.html.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rubin, Herbert J., and Rubin, Irene. 2005. Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weiss, Robert S. 1995. Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Wengraf, Tom. 2001. Qualitative Research Interviewing: Semi-Structured, Biographical and Narrative Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zwiers, Michael L., and Patrick, J. Morrissette. 1999. Effective Interviewing of Children. Philadelphia: Accelerated Development.Google Scholar
Carter, Prudence L. 2005. Keepin' It Real: School Success Beyond Black and White. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Jensen, Vickie. 1997. Saltwater Women at Work: In Their Own Words. Vancouver, BC: Douglas and McIntyre.Google Scholar
Karp, David A. 1996. Speaking of Sadness: Depression, Disconnection, and the Meanings of Illness. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. 1997. On Death and Dying. New York: Scribner.Google Scholar
McMahon, Martha. 1995. Engendering Motherhood: Identity and Self-Transformation in Women's Lives. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Projects, A, Work Projects Administration. 2004. Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger.
Schwartz, Pepper. 1995. Love between Equals: How Peer Marriage Really Works. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 1997. The Good War: An Oral History of World War Two. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 1997. Working: People Talk about What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 2000. Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 2004. Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Troubled Times. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 2005. Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel about the American Obsession. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Vaughan, Diane. 1990. Uncoupling: Turning Points in Intimate Relationships. New York: Vintage.Google Scholar
Atkinson, Robert. 1998. The Life Story Interview. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gubrium, Jaber F., and James, A. Holstein. 2001. Handbook of Interview Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Connor, Henrietta, and Madge, Clare. 2001. “Cyber-Mothers: Online Synchronous Interviewing using Conferencing Software.” Sociological Research Online 5 (4). http://www.socresonline.org.uk/5/4/o'connor.html.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rubin, Herbert J., and Rubin, Irene. 2005. Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weiss, Robert S. 1995. Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Wengraf, Tom. 2001. Qualitative Research Interviewing: Semi-Structured, Biographical and Narrative Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zwiers, Michael L., and Patrick, J. Morrissette. 1999. Effective Interviewing of Children. Philadelphia: Accelerated Development.Google Scholar
Carter, Prudence L. 2005. Keepin' It Real: School Success Beyond Black and White. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Jensen, Vickie. 1997. Saltwater Women at Work: In Their Own Words. Vancouver, BC: Douglas and McIntyre.Google Scholar
Karp, David A. 1996. Speaking of Sadness: Depression, Disconnection, and the Meanings of Illness. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. 1997. On Death and Dying. New York: Scribner.Google Scholar
McMahon, Martha. 1995. Engendering Motherhood: Identity and Self-Transformation in Women's Lives. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Projects, A, Work Projects Administration. 2004. Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger.
Schwartz, Pepper. 1995. Love between Equals: How Peer Marriage Really Works. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 1997. The Good War: An Oral History of World War Two. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 1997. Working: People Talk about What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 2000. Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 2004. Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Troubled Times. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Terkel, Studs. 2005. Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel about the American Obsession. New York: New Press.Google Scholar
Vaughan, Diane. 1990. Uncoupling: Turning Points in Intimate Relationships. New York: Vintage.Google Scholar
Burgess, Ann W., and Holmstrom, Lynda Lytle. 1974. Rape: Victims of Crisis. Bowie, MD: Brady.Google ScholarPubMed
Chatzifotiou, Sevaste. 2000. “Conducting Qualitative Research on Wife Abuse: Dealing with the Issue of Anxiety.” Sociological Research Online 5 (2). http://www.socresonline.org.uk/5/2/chatzifotiou. html.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Peter, and Samuel, M. Hinton. 1999. “Real-time Interviewing Using the World Wide Web.” Sociological Research Online 4 (3). http://www.socresonline.org.uk/4/3/chen.html.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cieri, Marie, and Peeps, Claire, eds. 2001. Activists Speak Out: Reflections on the Pursuit of Change in America. New York: St. Martin's Press.Google Scholar
Delong, Candace, and Petrini, Elisa. 2001. Special Agent: My Life on the Front Lines as a Woman in the FBI. New York: Hyperion.Google Scholar
Denzin, Norman K. 1978. The Research Act: A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Goffman, Erving. 1966. Behavior in Public Places. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Gorden, Raymond L. 1998. Basic Interviewing Skills. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.Google Scholar
Gray, Amy C. 2003. Spygirl. New York: Villard.Google Scholar
Gray, Paul S. 1980. “Exchange and Access in Field Work.” Urban Life 9 (3) October: 309–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grieg, Anne, and Taylor, Jayne. 1999. Doing Research with Children. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Hansen, Eigil Boll, and Platz, Merete. 1995. “The Living Conditions of the 80–100 Year-Olds: An Interview Survey among the Elderly in 75 Danish Municipalities.” Institute of Local Government Studies (AFK), Denmark. http://www.akf.dk/eng/weak_eld.htm.Google Scholar
Karp, David A. 1996. Speaking of Sadness: Depression, Disconnection, and the Meanings of Illness. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. 1997. On Death and Dying. New York: Scribner.Google Scholar
Kvale, Steiner. 1996. Interviews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Mackenzie, Jeannie. 2005. “Group-Interviewing of Pupils: One Experience.” Scottish Council for Research in Education. http://www.scre.ac.uk/tpr/observations/obs10/obs10mackenzie.html.Google Scholar
Maso, Objee, and Webster, Fred, eds. 1995. The Deliberate Dialogue. Brussels: VubPress.Google Scholar
McMahon, Martha. 1995. Engendering Motherhood: Identity and Self-Transformation in Women's Lives. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. 2004. Medical and Legal Protocol for Dealing with Victims of Domestic Violence. Albany, NY. http://www.opdv.state.ny.us/health_humsvc/ health/protocol/protocol.pdf.
Reinharz, Shulamit. 1984. On Becoming a Social Scientist. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.Google Scholar
Schor, Juliet. 1993. Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Scully, Diana, and Joseph, Marolla. 1999. “Convicted Rapists' Vocabulary of Motive: Excuses and Justifications.” In Social Deviance: Readings in Theory and Research, 150–158. Henry, N. Pontell, ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Seidman, Irving. 2006. Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A Guide for Researchers in Education and the Social Sciences. 3rd ed. New York: Teachers College Press.Google Scholar
Selwyn, Neil, and Robinson, Kate. 1998. “Using E-mail as a Research Tool.” Social Research Update 21 (Summer). http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/sru/SRU21.html.Google Scholar
Stewart, Charles J., and WilliamB. Cash, Jr. B. Cash, Jr. 2000. Interviewing Principles and Practices. Boston: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Thompson, William E., and Harred, Jackie L.. 1999. “Topless Dancers: Managing Stigma in a Deviant Occupation.” In Social Deviance: Readings in Theory and Research, 277–287. Henry, N. Pontell, ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Vaughan, Diane. 1990. Uncoupling: Turning Points in Intimate Relationships. New York: Vintage.Google Scholar
Vigilant, Lee G. 2001. “Liquid Handcuffs.” PhD Dissertation, Department of Sociology, Boston College.Google Scholar
Watson, Lucinda. 2001. How They Achieved: Stories of Personal Achievement and Business Success. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Weiss, Robert S. 1995. Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Zucker, Carole. 2002. Conversations with Actors on Film, Television, and Stage Performance. Westport, CT: Heinemann.Google Scholar
Zwiers, Michael L., and Patrick, J. Morrissette. 1999. Effective Interviewing of Children. Philadelphia: Accelerated Development.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×