Interviewing may be the most common method utilized by qualitative researchers. There are many hidden challenges, however.  Some of these are rather well-known, such as the problems involved in selecting and contacting potential interviewees.  Aspiring researchers are also probably aware that the specific form of a question, and the order in which questions are stated can influence the responses we receive. But all too often, researchers neglect to pay attention to what happens after the interview is over. What exactly should you do with all of the data you collected? How do you go about the task of comparing and aggregating the responses of your interviewees?

The resources listed below are all very helpful in addressing these various stages.  If you are looking for a single source to get you started, then Rubin and Rubin’s book may be useful. Chapter 4 addresses interview preparations. Chapter 6 addresses the importance of conduct during an interview. Chapter 7 provides advice on the structure of questions used in an interview situation. And finally, Chapter 7 discusses how to go about analyzing the data that you have collected. (Chapter 10 of Kvale goes into even greater depth).

Resources

General Resources

• Kvale, Steinar. 1996. Interviews: an introduction to qualitative research interviewing. Sage Publications.
• Patton, Michael Quinn. 1990. Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE.
• Rubin, Herbert J., and Irene Rubin. 1995. Qualitative interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE.
• Weisberg, Herbert F., Jon A. Krosnick, and Bruce D. Bowen. 1996. An introduction to survey research, polling, and data analysis. SAGE.
• Peabody, Robert. et. al. “Interviewing Political Elites.” PS: Political Science and Politics 23:3 (September 1990), 451-55.
• Rivera et al. 2002. “Interviewing Political Elites: Lessons from Russia.” PS: Political Science & Politics 35, 683-688.

On Creating Questions

• Rubin, Herbert J., and Irene Rubin. 1995. “Assembling the Parts: Structuring a Qualitative Interview.” Qualitative interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE.
• Kvale, Steinar. 1996 “The 1,000 Page Question.”. Interviews: an introduction to qualitative research interviewing. Sage Publications.
• Weisberg et al. Chapter 4 Questionnaire Construction
• Aberbach, Joel D. and Bert A. Rockman. 2002. “Conducting and Coding Elite Interviews.” PS: Political Science & Politics 35:4, 673 – 676.

On Conducting Interviews

• Rubin, Herbert J., and Irene Rubin. 1995. “Chapter 6.” Qualitative interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE.
• Leech, Beth L. 2002. “Asking Questions: Techniques for Semistructured Interviews.” PS: Political Science & Politics 35:4, 665-668.
• Goldstein, Kenneth. 2002. “Getting in the Door: Sampling and Completing Elite Interviews.” PS: Political Science & Politics 35:4, 669-672.
• Woliver, Laura R. 2002. “Ethical Dilemmas in Personal Interviewing.” PS: Political Science & Politics 35:4, 677-678.

On Analyzing and Interpreting Interview/Survey Responses

• Rubin, Herbert J., and Irene Rubin. 1995. “Chapter 10: What did you hear?” Qualitative interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE.
• Kvale, Steinar. 1996. Interviews: an introduction to qualitative research interviewing. Sage Publications.
• Berry, Jeffrey M. 2002. “Validity and Reliability Issues In Elite Interviewing.” PS: Political Science & Politics 35:4, 679 – 682.

updated August 3, 2017 – MN