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A Practical Introduction to In-depth Interviewing
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A Practical Introduction to In-depth Interviewing

  • Alan Morris - University of Technology, Sydney, Australia


May 2015 | 160 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Are you new to qualitative research or a bit rusty and in need of some inspiration? Are you doing a research project involving in-depth interviews? Are you nervous about carrying out your interviews?

This book will help you complete your qualitative research project by providing a nuts and bolts introduction to interviewing. With coverage of ethics, preparation strategies and advice for handling the unexpected in the field, this handy guide will help you get to grips with the basics of interviewing before embarking on your research. While recognising that your research question and the context of your research will drive your approach to interviewing, this book provides practical advice often skipped in traditional methods textbooks.

Written with the needs of social science students and those new to qualitative research in mind, the book will help you plan, prepare for, carry out and analyse your interviews.    

 
Chapter 1: The what and why of in-­depth interviewing
 
Chapter 2: Ethics – the need to tread carefully
 
Chapter 3: Developing the interview guide
 
Chapter 4: Selecting, finding and accessing research participants
 
Chapter 5: Preparing for the interview
 
Chapter 6: Conducting the interview
 
Chapter 7: Dealing with difficulties and the unexpected
 
Chapter 8: Transcribing, analysing and writing up the interviews

I cannot recommend Alan Morris’ excellent book on in-depth interviewing too highly for all aspiring social science interviewers. It should be essential reading for postgraduate and undergraduate students who want to know exactly how to design, undertake and analyse semi-structured interviews.

Paul Watt
Senior Lecturer in Urban Studies, Birkbeck, University of London

There are books about qualitative methods, but Alan Morris brings his considerable experience and social science research expertise to a book specifically about the in-depth interview. The book covers not only ‘how to do’ excellent, subject-sensitive interviews. In a very engaging analytical style Morris takes the reader through the history of interviewing, the various approaches to interviewing, the research ethics challenges, and importantly, how to conduct the data analysis. This is a must read for any qualitative social scientist, whether trainee or highly experienced.

Gaby Ramia
Associate Professor, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Sydney

This is an excellent guide to the essential aspects of in-depth interviewing, highly valuable for newcomers and a great source for more experienced interviewers. The deep knowledge of the author shows through in the insightful comments about interview strategies and analysis. This book will help you obtain better quality data to produce more robust and reliable research. It also includes vital advice on negotiating university ethics committees. From planning through to execution and analysis, it provides an all-round guide to one of the most important research methodologies for students today.

Dr Nick Turnbull
University of Manchester

In-depth interviewing is amongst the richest methods of social science research. But it is a highly skilled craft, and for the novice, can be intimidating to embark on, and difficult to use successfully. In this book, Alan Morris provides the ideal guide for anyone starting out on the path of in-depth interviews.  Morris writes in a highly engaging style, characterized by clarity and conciseness. He draws on relevant and interesting examples from the literature and from his vast experience as a researcher in both South Africa and Australia. Morris is a wise guide through the ethical minefield with which the researcher is sometimes confronted. The steps necessary in preparing, executing and analyzing interviews are well laid out. The reader is alerted to difficult or even dangerous problems that can arise along the way. It would be hard to imagine a better text for the beginner in using in-depth interviews.

Jonathan Hyslop
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York

This should be required reading for everyone who uses in-depth interviewing during their research process. The author is an award winning sociologist with rich research experience in widely different social contexts.  The book is extremely erudite, drawing on a vast knowledge of the relevant literature, as well as on the author’s own extensive research encounters with a variety of informants. It is lively, practical and - most importantly - is aimed at increasing the enjoyment of those using this powerful method to obtain new knowledge. This is a strong contrast with the conventionally ‘dry’ academic approaches to research methodology.

Jacklyn Cock
Professor Emeritus, Sociology Department, University of the Witwatersrand

...Immensely readable and highly accessible, Morris introduces difficult concepts clearly and illustrates each point with real-life examples and helpful activities...This clear and authoritative guide is a must-read for any student or researcher embarking on interview research and wanting practice-based guidance.

Jessica Frawley, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
U: Magazine

This is a great book for those who are planning to conduct interviews for the first time or to refresh knowledge. It offers practical advice and clear explanations. I recommend it for students from all levels who are studying/planning to conduct in-depth interviews.

Miss Cristiana Viana Cardoso
Division of Criminology, Birmingham City University
November 20, 2018

Morris provides a user-friendly introductory text for inexperienced researchers wanting to do in-depth interviews.

Dr Jacques De Wet
Sociology, University of Cape Town
November 29, 2016

A great amount of detail on planning and conducting the interviews, with details of strategies for when things go a little 'off'. Vital information for undergrads or anyone considering interviews for their dissertation. Even experienced researchers will learn something from this book.

Dr Jacqueline Hughes
Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University
October 12, 2016

This text is applicable to a wide range of research practice applications where field work is a key component. It is pragmatic and equally informative for comprehensive media broadcasting based projects.

Mr Donnacha Toomey
Business & Social Studies, Tralee Institute of Technology
May 13, 2016

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