How to conduct synchronous online interviews in qualitative work

Weller, Susie (2022) How to conduct synchronous online interviews in qualitative work. (In Press)

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Abstract

In recent years, the acceleration of technological developments has changed the way we interact with others in both our personal and professional lives. Digital communication technologies now feature in the toolkits of many social scientists, with the recent growth in use fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. In many global contexts, public health infection control measures have required people to distance themselves physically. As a consequence, much social interaction has shifted online and, for many qualitative researchers, so has the means by which data is generated. This how-to guide focuses on the use of synchronous online interviews in qualitative research. Such interviews employ a range of tools that allow researchers and participants to communicate in real-time, from audio-only interviews through to online video-enabled applications (apps, hereafter).

Drawing on the outcomes of projects conducted before and during the pandemic, users of the guide will learn about the benefits and drawbacks of using synchronous online interviews for researchers, participants, and for the interview encounter. Readers will be encouraged to consider the practicalities involved in organising, conducting, and recording such interviews including key technical considerations, issues of access and equity, consent and confidentiality online, and matters concerning resourcing. The implications of conducting qualitative interviews online on interactional issues such as rapport, non-verbal forms of communication, willingness to divulge, disclosure of sensitive issues, and the salience of context will also be discussed.

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