Interpreting interviews - Mats Alvesson

Through the use of eight original metaphors for understanding what may happen in interviews and what may guide the interviewee (more than telling the truth or revealing experiences), the reader is encouraged to do interviews in clever ways. This text enables you to question the interpretive nature and theoretical underpinnings of the interview method, and of the knowledge which is conveyed through it.



The updated second edition includes new content on:



How to avoid traps in interviews

How to use interviewees with experience and insight

How to work creatively with generative material

The value of repeat interviewing over time

The importance of supplementing interviews with other methods

Possibilities of interview-based research accompanied by examples



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 Alvessonis professor at University of Bath and is also affiliated with Lund University, Stockholm School of Economics and Bayes Business School.