Interview methods (Advanced methodology course – practice-related methods)

E2022

Global Studies * / International Development Studies * / Business studies * / International Public Administration and Politics * / Business Administration and Leadership * / Business Administration and Leadership / Global and Development Studies / International Politics and Governance / Business Administration and Leadership / European Master in Global Studies

Course

English

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Markus-Michael Müller (muellerm@ruc.dk)

(NONE@ruc.dk)

ISE Studyadministration (ise-studyadministration@ruc.dk)

U60377

A practice-oriented methodology course aims to equip students to competently apply a given technique or tool that is frequently used in practice.

The course equips students to argue for the applicability and relevance of the technique or tool to the problem, and to apply the technique or tool in work situations.

Interviews are one of the main research strategies employed by students and scholars of social science to generate data for qualitative analyses. However, many interviews are conducted with poor preparation, no reflection on the quality and level of data gathered, and how to manage and use the interview material in research and scientific publications.

This course aims to prepare students for conducting qualitative interviews. Students will be familiarized with different interview forms—such as expert interviews, focus group interviews, interviews with a translator--and engage with different dimensions of interviews – methodologically (why interviews, and how does the decision to work with interviews link to the level of theory?), methods (which data is to be gathered, to which end?) and very practically (e.g. how to prepare interviews, formulate questions, gain access, function in an interview situation, and what to do with the interview material afterwards). There will also be focus on intercultural aspects of interviewing.

Specific emphasis will be given to exercises that will allow students to practice different interview forms and techniques and to critically reflect upon these approaches and tools, including their ethical implications.

Bogner, B. Littig, and W. Menz (eds.) (2009) Interviewing Experts (Basingstoke: Palgrave)

Gubrium, J.F. & J.A. Holstein and J. A., Marvasti, A. B. & McKinney, K. D. (2012). The SAGE handbook of interview research: The complexity of the craft Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, e-access

Kvale, S. and S. Brinkmann. (eds) (2014) InterViews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing, (Thousand Oaks: Sage), 3rd edition (KEY TEXT)

The course is a 5 ECTS and has a total of 135 working hours for students. The hours are thought to be divided as follows: course participation 20 hours; preparation for sessions, including additional interview exercises: 75 hours; exam preparation 10; exam assignment 30 hours.

Campus

The activity are evaluated regularly regarding the study board evaluation procedure. The activity responsible will be orientated about a potential evaluation of the activity at semesterstart. Se link to the study board evaluation praxis here https://intra.ruc.dk/nc/for-ansatte/organisering/raadnaevn- og-udvalg/oversigt-over-studienaevn/studienaevn-for-internationale-studier/arbejdet-medkvalitet- i-uddannelserne/

See moodle.

• At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain and evaluate key concepts relating to the given technique or tool, using academically relevant terminology

• Argue for the utility of the technique or tool in practice

• Master the application of the basic functions of the given technique or tool

• Take a critical position in relation to the use of the technique or tool in practice.

Individual portfolio exam.

The character limit of the portfolio is maximum 24,000 characters, including spaces. Examples of written products are exercise responses, talking points for presentations, written feedback, reflections, written assignments. The preparation of the products may be subject to time limits.
The character limits include the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

The portfolio is written completely or partially during the course.

The entire portfolio must be handed in at the same time (uploaded to eksamen.ruc.dk). Handing in the portfolio or parts of the portfolio to the supervisor for feedback, cannot replace the upload to eksamen.ruc.dk.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

Reflect critically on the practice of interviewing as a qualitative research approach and learning process in academic terms

Argue for the choice of interview techniques, tools and approaches in relation to a given research problem

Explain your analytical strategy to integrate your empirical data into your writing.

Argue for the ethical implications of your methodological choices.