Information on Conducting and Documenting FQS Interviews
Requirements for Interviews / Interviewers
FQS Interviews should provide insight into the richness and variety of qualitative research, and in the ideas, concepts, and (professional) biographies of those who have and those who continue to help to develop and promote this research tradition.
The following is a list of questions that can serve as an orientation to topics for interviews:
- What influences, motivations, perspectives were especially important for you becoming and being a qualitative researcher? Talking about the context of your work is welcome and, if possible, also more personally about the becoming of / being a qualitative researcher.
- What is/was your contribution? What do you expect for the future? If applicable: What were the circumstances that caused you to change the course/style of your research? What made it necessary to do so?
- What are the most important developments in qualitative research in general within your specific discipline (and beyond it)? Discuss in more detail the nature of interdisciplinary work within your specific discipline and from an international perspective.
- What central challenges had to be managed, what "fights" (in general and in the specific discipline/country) were necessary (past and present), and what will be the coming challenges and "fights"?
Above all, interviews should not contain information only for specialists but should introduce the context, (current) questions, and discussions in the broad field of qualitative research. Therefore, the task is to define the challenges for qualitative research (and researchers) again and again, and to give the opportunity to learn about/from the history and tradition of qualitative research.
Interviews are especially helpful, because in an interview it is easier to talk about or debate ideas than in a typical academic article and, in addition, in interviews it is easier to create links between researchers and the products (and conditions of production) of their research.
Methods of Conducting and Presenting of Interviews
Interviews can be conducted as face-to-face-conversations or by using electronic media. They could be of a more traditional style (question and answer-format), or as an open discussion without a clear role definition of interviewee and interviewer.
The interviews can be published in the original format (as the discussion actually evolved e.g., during e-mail-communication or in a chat room) or as an edited (re-arranged) version (we prefer the latter); editing or re-arrangement could mean that the dialogue will be cleaned up, or that the interview is the base for a new written and/or new composed text.
In addition to the interview it would be helpful if the interviewers provide additional information. Thus, in the beginning information about the interviewed person should be provided (e.g., life stations, central publication, awards; information that provides some insight in the interviewee's contribution to qualitative research). Also, the interview situation should be briefly described (place and time of the interview; initial contact between interviewer and interviewee; method of interview used). Finally, some information about the published text and documentation used should be presented.
Additionally, photos of the interviewee (and interviewer) are welcomed, and the audio-/video tapes of the interview could be part of the document.
Announcement of Interviews
All FQS readers may suggest individuals or topics for interviews. However, you must contact the editors prior to submitting an interview. Interviews submitted without prior inquiry may not be published.
The submitted interviews will be evaluated according to the criteria listed above. If they do not fit these criteria, suggestions to revise may be given by the FQS editors.
Guidelines for Layout
We do not prescribe a formal range of minimum/maximum words, because the length and kind of documentation depend on the content of the interview, but please inform us in cases of very long texts. Interviews should follow the Manuscript Guidelines valid for any article submitted to FQS.
