Interviews in Qualitative Research

Abstract

AbstractQualitative interviews are a widely used method in applied linguistics research, with researchers incorporating interviews in a variety of research designs, including case studies, mixed methods, oral and life history studies, and ethnographies. This entry discusses commonly used forms of interviews, such as phenomenological, ethnographic, and oral and life history interviews, and provides examples to show how researchers use these forms to generate knowledge about language learning and teaching among other topics. Steps in the design of qualitative studies using interviews are reviewed. These include formulating research questions that can be examined using interviews, considering sampling and selection criteria, developing an interview guide, submitting proposals for ethical review, and recruitment of participants for studies. Examples of question formulations commonly used when conducting interviews are provided. Innovations in how researchers use interviews are discussed, including dialogic forms of interviews, the use of new technologies in interviewing, and mobile methods. Theorizations of interviews used in applied linguistics research are reviewed along with issues related to the transcription and analysis of interview data. The entry concludes by discussing assessment of quality, and the future of interview research.