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Qualitative Online Interviews
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Qualitative Online Interviews
Strategies, Design, and Skills

Second Edition
  • Janet Salmons - Free-range Scholar, Vision2Lead and Research Community Manager at SAGE MethodSpace


April 2014 | 320 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
The Second Edition of Qualitative Online Interviews provides researchers the guidance they need to extend the reach of their studies beyond physical boundaries. Focusing on designing, conducting, and assessing data drawn from online interviews as well as from observations, materials, and artifacts collected online, the book emphasizes the use of in-depth interviews in qualitative research or mixed-methods designs. Written in an easy-to-read manner, the thorough Second Edition offers the practical information and scholarly foundations needed to make thoughtful decisions in technology-infused research.

See how Qualitative Online Interviews can be used in a course with these sample course outlines:

Online Interviews Design and Practice

Qualitative Inquiry and Online Interviews

Online Interviews and Case Analysis


Watch a short video overview of the new edition of Qualitative Online Interviews:


 
List of Figures
 
List of Tables
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Chapter 1: The E-Interview Research Framework
Interview Research: A Window Into the Lived Experience

 
Online Interview Research

 
Online Interviews and Multimethod Research

 
A Conceptual Framework for E-Interview Research

 
Aligning Purpose and Design

 
Choosing Online Data Collection Method for the Study

 
Taking a Position as a Researcher

 
Determining E-Interview or Observation Style(s)

 
Selecting ICT and Milieu

 
Using Visual Research in Online Interviews and Observations

 
Handling Sampling and Recruiting

 
Addressing Ethical Issues

 
Collecting the Data

 
Closing Thoughts

 
 
Chapter 2: Aligning Purpose and Design
Research: New Knowledge and Understandings

 
Understanding the “Research Interview”

 
What Is an In-Depth Research Interview?

 
Interviews in an Interview Society

 
Research Epistemologies, Methodologies, and Methods

 
Theories and Research Design

 
Epistemologies Influence Design Choices

 
Mixed Methods, Multimethods, and Mixed Epistemologies

 
Methodologies and Methods: Key Principles and Distinctions

 
Interviews and Observations in Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Studies

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
The E-Interview Research Framework: Creating a Coherent Design

 
Aligning Purpose and Design Across Qualitative Methodologies

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 3: Choosing Online Data Collection Method and Taking a Position as a Researcher
Choosing to Collect Data with ICTs Based on Medium, Setting, or Phenomenon

 
Taking a Position as a Researcher

 
Insider (Emic) or Outsider (Etic) E-Research Positions

 
Rethinking Research Metaphors: Travelers, Gardeners, or Miners?

 
Positions, Power, and Symmetry in Interviews

 
Reflexivity and the Researcher’s Position

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
The E-Interview Research Framework: Choosing E-Interviews and Positions

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 4: Determining E-Interview or Observation Styles
Structure and the Online Interview

 
Typology of E-Interview Structures

 
Structured Interviews

 
Semistructured Interviews

 
Unstructured Interviews

 
Life Story or Oral History Interviews

 
Postmodern Interviews

 
Co-Constructed Narratives

 
Creative Interviews

 
Structure and Technology

 
Structured Interviews

 
Semistructured Interviews

 
Unstructured Interviews

 
Motivations for Online Interviews and the Typology of E-Interview Structures

 
The Researcher’s Position and the Typology of E-Interview Structures

 
Interviews in Qualitative, Mixed-Methods, and Multimethod Studies

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
The E-Interview Research Framework: Determining Styles for Online Interviews

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 5: Selecting Information and Communication Technologies and Research Setting Milieu
Technology Equals Change

 
Forces for Change

 
The Internet: The Medium Warms

 
Technology Convergence: “Technologies Are Crashing Together”

 
Interactivity and Collaboration

 
Communication Richness

 
Nonverbal Communications and Online Interviews

 
Synchronous, Near-Synchronous, and Asynchronous Communication

 
Tools and Features for Online Interview Research

 
Aligning Features With Research Purposes

 
Choosing, Finding, or Creating a Conducive Meeting Space

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
The E-Interview Research Framework: Selecting ICTs and Milieu

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 6: Visual Research and the Online Qualitative Interview
Seeing the Interview: Visual Questions, Visual Answers

 
Multimodal Communication in a Multilingual World

 
Visual Literacy and Spatial Intelligence

 
Typology of Online Visual Interview Methods

 
Visual Methods in Online Interviews

 
Text-Based Interviews

 
Video Conference, Video Call, or Video Chat

 
Multichannel Web Conference Meeting Spaces

 
Immersive Virtual Environments

 
Using Visual Methods to Enrich Online Interview Data

 
Issues in Online Visual Research

 
Perceptual Issues

 
Ethical Issues

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Structured Visual Online Interviews

 
Semistructured and Unstructured Visual Online Interviews

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 7: Handling Sampling and Recruiting: Selecting Participants for Online Interviews
A Critical Decision: Whom to Interview?

 
Sampling in Qualitative Research

 
Types of Sampling

 
Size of Sample

 
Sample Frames

 
Sampling and Recruiting for Online Interview Research

 
Design Decisions Influence Sampling and Recruiting

 
Sampling Approaches Appropriate for Online Interview Research

 
Communicating With Potential Participants

 
Ensuring That Participants Are Credible

 
Participants Are Nominated by Trustworthy Third Party

 
Participants Are Pulled From Existing Sample Frames

 
Ensuring Research Participants That Researchers Are Credible

 
Getting Out the Recruitment Message

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
The E-Interview Research Framework: Handling Sampling and Recruiting

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 8: Addressing Ethical Issues in Online Interview Research
Ethical Research Design and Online Interviews

 
Ethical Research Design Fundamentals

 
Informed Consent

 
Informed Consent and Online Research

 
Informed Consent in Online Interview Research

 
Informed Consent in Online Observation Research

 
Identity and Privacy

 
Withdrawal From the Online Study

 
Protection of Data

 
Ethical Frameworks

 
The Deontological Approach

 
The Consequentialist or Utilitarian Approach

 
The Virtue Ethics Approach

 
Toward an Understanding of Internet Research Ethics

 
Research Design, Ethics, and Review Boards

 
Risk/Benefit Analysis

 
Review Issues for Informed Consent

 
Review Issues for Privacy and Confidentiality

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
The E-Interview Research Framework: Addressing Ethical Issues

 
Stories of Online Inquiry: Three Researchers—Ethical or Not?

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 9: Preparing for an Online Interview
Planning to Interview

 
Preparing the Questions

 
Communications Technologies and Online Interview Preparation

 
Considerations for ICT Selection

 
Learning the ICT

 
Interview Preparation by ICT Type

 
Preparing for Any Online Interview

 
Preparing for a Text-Based Interview

 
Synchronicity and Synchronous/Near Synchronous Text-Based Interviews

 
Preparing for an Asynchronous Text-Based Interview

 
Preparing for a Video Interview

 
Preparing to Interview in a Web Conferencing Meeting Space

 
Preparing to Interview in an Immersive Virtual Environment

 
Getting Ready to Interview

 
Defining Roles

 
Epoche, Self-Reflection, and Preparing to Listen

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 10: Conducting the Online Interview
Interviewer and the Interview

 
Conducting a Research Interview

 
Opening the Interview

 
Questioning and Guiding

 
Closing the Interview

 
Post-Interview Follow-Up

 
Conducting a Research Interview Using Synchronous Technologies

 
Text-Based Interview

 
Video Conference Interview

 
Interviews in Multichannel Web Conferencing Meeting Spaces

 
Interviews in Immersive Virtual Environments

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
The E-Interview Research Framework: Conducting the Study

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
On the Web

 
 
Chapter 11: Contributing Quality E-Research to the Literature
Using the E-Interview Research Framework to Assess Design and Research Quality

 
Aligning Purpose and Design

 
Coherent but Flexible Design

 
Choosing Online Data Collection Method for the Study

 
Taking a Position as a Researcher

 
Insider–Outsider Perspectives and Interpretations

 
Power Dynamics

 
Reflexivity

 
Determining E-Interview or Observation Style(s)

 
Selecting ICT and Milieu

 
Handling Sampling and Recruiting

 
Addressing Ethical Issues

 
Conducting the Interview

 
Closing Thoughts

 
Researcher’s Notebook

 
Stories of Online Inquiry

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
 
Chapter 12: Online Communications and Online Interviews Trends and Influences
Online Communications and Online Interviews

 
Anywhere, Anytime Communication

 
Online Collaboration and Social Literacies

 
Disintermediation and Apomediation

 
Privacy in Online Milieus

 
ICT Trends and Implications for Researchers

 
Closing Thoughts and Recommendations for Further Research

 
Discussions and Assignments

 
 
Appendix: Qualitative Data Analysis
 
Glossary of Terms
 
References
 
Index

Supplements

Companion Website

The open-access Companion Website includes the following:

  • Mobile-friendly eFlashcards reinforce understanding of key terms and concepts that have been outlined in the chapters.
  • Worksheets assist readers in preparing the right information, questions, and answers.
  • A variety of E-Research Tips ?help readers prepare for interviews.
  • Video media pieces feature the author, Janet Salmons, walking readers through the concepts in her book.
  • Sample syllabi and course outlines help instructors plan a course using this book.

The book offers a good introduction to the subject. It is clearly structured and provided with examples, ideal for use.

Mrs Claudia Csida
Department for Diversity, University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria
March 15, 2021

Good modern and easy to follow

Mrs Brenda Robertson
Business Administration , Moray College
June 8, 2015

This is a very well-organised and helpfully formatted book, affording comprehensive guidance to those new to the online interview as part of their qualitative research methodology. The finely-tuned coverage of ethical matters will be of particular value to students embarking on this type of data collection.

Ms Stephanie Aldred
Department of Languages, Manchester Metropolitan University
April 8, 2015

Useful to support dissertation students.

Sasha Pleasance
Care & Learning Opportunities, South Devon College
March 26, 2015

Chose another text

Dr Carie Lambert
School Of Arts Humanities, University Of Texas At Dallas
March 16, 2015

This is an excellent overview of online research methods using qualitative approaches. While many students will focus on 'traditional' face-to-face methods or even telephone interviews, online research is something that they should be exposed to given the increasing reach and access to the internet in the UK.

The book covers essential practical issues related to different ways of conducting qualitative research online as well as addressing important issues of researcher reflexivity and the particular ethical implications of conducting online research. It is very clearly laid out and written in extremely accessible language.

Dr Fiona Harris
School of Health Sciences, Stirling University
February 23, 2015

An excellent textbook on a methodology of growing importance - recommended for all dissertation students.

Mr Charles McIntyre
School of Tourism, Bournemouth University
November 4, 2014

Excellent and very helpful work on qualitative internet research. Helps students and new researchers to organize and structure their plans and offers a robust guidance framework during the implementation of their research strategy and especially in the most difficult part which is the data collection through online research interviews.

Dr Dionysis Panos
Dpt Communication and Internet Studies, Cyprus University of Technology
October 8, 2014

A useful addition to research texts. This book is reasonably well-written. It focuses on an upcoming aspect of research. Interviews on-line includes informative ideas, with some solid advice. .

Dr Jane Jackson
Faculty of Education & Lang Studies, The Open University
October 8, 2014

This book focuses on an upcoming aspect of research. Interviews on-line includes informative ideas, with some solid advice. A nice addition to anyones collection of research texts. Might stretch some undergrads though.

Dr Jane Jackson
Faculty of Education & Lang Studies, The Open University
October 8, 2014
Key features

New and Key Features:

  • Provides guidance on ethical practices in online research
  • Offers direction for conducting interviews via various synchronous and asynchronous communications technologies
  • Shows how online observations, posts and documents can complement online interviews
  • Explores use of visual methods in online research
  • Adds a chapter on evaluating quality in online research
  • Explains sound foundations in accepted qualitative and mixed methods theory and practice
  • Includes templates, links and examples, syllabi and learning activities on the companion website

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


For instructors

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