InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing

By Steinar Kvale and Svend Brinkmann

Book Overview

"I think the book is a fine job, coming ′′up close′′ to issues that are often avoided or left tacit, and as a consequence have become terra incognita to many qualitative researchers. More precisely, they do not even know that they do not know."

--Matthew B. Miles, Senior Research Associate, Center for Policy Research

"The book will have an immediate and very wide audience. It is a marvelous statement, very synthetic, very accessible, and so nicely interpretive."

--Norman K. Denzin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Interviewing is an essential tool in the repertoire of the qualitative researcher, and yet the intricate relationship between the "hows" and the "whys" of the interview process is not always easily understood. Steinar Kvale′s InterViews provides both theoretical underpinnings and practical aspects of the interview process. After examining the role of the interview in the research process, Kvale considers some of the key philosophical issues relating to interviewing: the interview as conversation, hermeneutics, phenomenology, concerns about ethics as well as validity, and postmodernism. Having laid out the framework, the author takes the reader through the seven stages of the interviewing process, from designing a study to writing it up.

Fundamental and essential, InterViews is written for students and professionals in qualitative and research methods, psychology, education research, nursing, social work, counseling, family studies, gerontology, evaluation, sociology, and anthropology.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080395820X
• ISBN13: 9780803958203
• Release Date: March 1996
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Length: 344 Pages
• Weight: 1.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Add inspiration to your research methods

After having read through literature for qualitative and quantitative research methods and some books in philosophy of science, I must admit that Kvale has something that most others lack - a gift to write. Not only is he himself knowledgable, but he demonstrates a sense of humour and a pedagogic approach with several fine examples. With a good methodological background he expands the field of qualitative research for the reader. Clearly he's not all qualitative but has a good way to argue for both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. In the book many important and useful references are found which might help the reader to get a deeper perspecitve on the issues, in particular in the theoretical backgrounds. Further, it is also useful to get other perspecitve in this field, with many branches in different research traditions. A shortcoming of the book is it's age - in Scandinavia there are already a newer version, and an updated version of this book could qualify on most novel and moderately expereinced qualitative researchers book shelf. Actually even the more experienced ones will probably enjoy the book for its clear perspectives, bright wit and pedagogic superiority.

Interesting Slant on Qualitative Research

Professor Steiner Kvale has written a very interesting and thought provoking book on the use of interviews in qualitative research work. Professor Kvale discusses getting the researcher to place themselves in the subjects domain when formulating interviews. From the viewpoint of research, I feel this aspect is important for the researcher in order to frame their questions appropriately, to gain the most from their research. The procedure for getting some people to an interview is a hard one as they lead extremely busy lives and need to be drawn to the cause of the researcher. This fact requires the researcher to spend some time structuring their questions and designing the interview. I am currently engaged in some research work and can attest to the need to make the person targetted for interviews interested in the project-otherwise you will have a hard time gaining their interest and cooperation for an interview. I found Professor Kvale's book informative and interesting; with a great deal of useful information for gaining insight into planning interviews for research in qualitative methodology. However, the book might be difficult for some; as I found it requires some syntopical reading in order to gain a full grasp of the theoretical aspects of the craft. In this respect, I find it better not to attempt to read such a book like a novel-from cover to cover; but rather to read from various sections and gain an interesting discussion thread of the book and follow it that way. Professor Kvale's book has a great deal of interesting information for the qualitative researcher seeking to gain information for their project, through the use of interviews. I found the book very handy with a great deal of information on interviews and their use in researching. A good list of references is also included. Well done, Professor Kvale!

Heavy into the philosophy

Never performed qualitative research prior. Thought this book would be a helpful introduction. Very heavy on the theoretical side, as in making a solid case for why qualitative research is valid. I already accept its validity, wanted to know how to assess it and make it go smoothly. As I am not a serious scientist, this book had way more information than I needed. Still and all it is very informative and I would certainly recommend it if you are planning to do any work on the qualitative side and maybe need to convince your boss that it is a good idea.

Thoughtful, in-depth examination of complex research method

Kvale has done a great service for qualitative researchers the world over. Too often we take the interview process (from conceptualization through analysis) for granted. Kvale has clearly presented an indepth analysis of the the theoretical and philosophical foundations of interviewing and the influence those foundations have on the process, the content, and the analysis of qualitative interviews. This is essential reading for any qualitative researcher and should be on the required reading lists for any course in this area.