Max Bergman
Qualitative Interviewing
Max Bergman is a lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences,
University of Cambridge and a researcher at the University of Geneva. He
holds an M.A. from the University of Geneva and a Ph.D. from the
University of Cambridge. He has previously taught courses and workshops
on empirical research methods at the Universities of Cambridge, Geneva,
and Zurich. He also teaches at the Essex Summer School in Social Science
Data Analysis and Collection. His research interests include empirical
research methods, especially the overlap between qualitative and
quantitative methods, as well as reliability and validity issues relating
to interpretative methods, and, substantively, the links between
attitudes, values, and ideology, as well as the links between intergroup
relations and gender/ethnic/national identity.
The aim of this workshop is to examine in detail different aspects of
interview strategies and data analysis techniques, including: the
variations, possibilities, and limits of interviewing techniques;
examination of assumptions and biases with respect to the interview
process, especially sampling and reporting biases; construction of an
interview schedule from a research question; question and interview
schedule design; reliability and validity issues relating to the
interviewing process; analysis of interview material, with an emphasis on
interpretative methods, namely content and discourse analysis; strategies
of reporting research results from interviews for scientific and other
professional publications.
Throughout the week, daily exercises on how to collect and analyse
interview material will be an important part of the lectures. The
participants are furthermore invited to bring their own data to the summer
school, and will have a chance to discuss and work on their project during
the course.
Bibliography
Basic text/overview
Berg, B.L. (1995). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences.
Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Denzin, N. & Y. Lincoln (Eds.)(1994). Handbook of Qualitative Research.
London: Sage.
Foddy, W. (1993). Constructing questions for interviews and
questionnaires: Theory, and practice in social research. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
Prerequisites
No particular prerequisites are required. However, a background in any of
the social sciences and preparatory readings are highly recommended (see
bibliography).