Interpreting Interviews

Through the use of eight original metaphors, this text will encourage you to question the interpretive nature and theoretical underpinnings not only of your interview method, but of the knowledge which is conveyed through it.

The second edition includes completely new content on:

• The benefits of using interviewees with experience and insight
• How to work creatively with generative material
• The value of repeat interviewing over time 
• Using interviews for thick descriptions
• New content illustrating the pros and cons and possibilities of interview-based research accompanied by examples
• New content showing how interviews and questionnaires can be used in combination

This text is essential reading for upper undergraduate and postgraduate students of qualitative methods and researchers looking to more clearly conceptualize their interviewing practice and explore its theoretical basis.

Mats Alvesson holds a chair in the Business Administration department at Lund University and is also a part-time professor at University of Queensland Business School and at Bayes Business School.