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Qualitative Research Interviewing Biographic Narrative and Semi-Structured Methods

• Tom Wengraf - Middlesex University, UK
• Description

Qualitative Research Interviewing is unique in its conceptual coherence and the level of practical detail that it offers to the beginning social researcher. It provides a comprehensive resource for those concerned with the practice of semi-structured interviewing, the most commonly used interview approach in social research, and in particular for depth, biographic narrative interviewing, the interview methods of choice in qualitative research. It covers the full range of practices from the identification of topics through to strategies for writing up research findings in diverse ways.

The first part describes a coherent conceptual framework for understanding semi-structured and biographic narrative interviewing. It uses examples of good and bad practice from both published research and work by students and field researchers to clarify the following issues:

- The purpose of research

- The development of research questions

- The initial design of interview questions for differently-constructed interview sessions, including follow-up questions

- Generating narrative questions and note-taking

- Choices of random or theory-driven 'samples' of informants

- Managing contact during, and after interviews.

The second part deals with data analysis and writing up. The philosophy and politics of transcribing, coding and interpretation are dealt with in a highly practical way and the complex procedure of biographic-narrative interpretation -distinguishing lived life from told story - is described and illustrated in an accessible way.

The final sections deal with theorising and the writing up of a range of interview reports using a variety of textual strategies. Examples of good and bad practice from student and published research are included throughout.

Qualitative Research Interviewing is a unique and indispensable resource for learning the art and craft of a wide spectrum of methods and approaches in interview based research.

See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

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`Wengraf provides a comprehensive theoretical and practical guide to the planning, conduct, and interpretative analysis of data by semi-structured interviewing methods. Forthright and frank in his comments about the limitations and practical implications of varying choices which investigators have to make in designing their research projects. Reading this text is like having a tough but expert and caring mentor who wants you to do the best research possible, but will not hesitate to tell you when your ideology and assumptions skew that possibility' - Vincent W Hevern, Le Moyne College, USA

Very well written and easy to navigate and follow. Will highly recommend to professionals and students as an important resource for qualitative research

This book was accessible and really informative for students selecting this approach.

In-depth study of qualitative research interviewing with advice beyond the BNIM method. There is a wealth of guidance offered that stems from real research experience.

A practical and useful text from designing biographic narrative research projects, to interviewing and analysing data. Good examples to support a greater understanding of the method.

This offers very useful material for thinking through the process of doing interviews in qualitative research.

Very Good book for anybody looking to perform Interviews

Our Program has chosen instead to focus our training of students on quantitative methods.

Excellent practical and comprehensive book on in-depth semi structured interviewing.

I believe this text is the strongest on interviews I have read. It is ideal for PhD students as well as masters students. It is very practical and thorough and covers all aspects of the process. Any student considering qualitative research and more specifically questionnaires really need to use this text

Qualitative research interviewing : biographic narrative and semi-structured methods

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• PART ONE: CONCEPTS AND APPROACHES TO DEPTH INTERVIEWING Interview 'Facts' as Evidence to Support Inferences to Eventual Theorization/Representation Models Conceptual Frameworks for Studying and Inferring from (Research) Interview Interaction Practice Models of Research Design and Their Application to Semi-Structured Depth Interviewing Lightly and Heavily-Structured Depth Interviewing Theory-Questions and Interviewer-Questions PART TWO: UP TO THE INERVIEW: STRATEGIES FOR GETTING THE RIGHT MATERIALS Preparing for Any Interviewing Sequence Preparing Lightly-Structured Depth Interviews A Design for a BNIM-Type Biographic-Narrative Interview Preparing Moderately- or Heavily-Structured Interviews PART THREE: AROUND THE INTERVIEW: CONTACT MANAGEMENT-THEORY AND PRACTICE Before Making Contact and Starting the Fieldwork Phase of the Research Process The Session PART FOUR: AFTER THE INTERVIEW: STRATEGIES FOR WORKING THE MATERIALS Copying, Indexing and Transcribing Analyzing/Interpreting Any Interview Materials Answers to TQs Analyzing/Interpreting SQUIN-BNIM Interview Materials Answers to TQs PART FIVE: COMPARISON OF CASES: FROM CONTINGENCIES OF CASES TO TYPES OF TYPOLOGIES Resources for Typification and General-Models within Single-Case Research Types of Typologies PART SIX: WRITING UP: STRATEGIES OF RE/PRESENTATION Conceptual Frameworks for Studying and Re/presenting Writings Up: Theorizing and Narrating in 'Presentation' Strategies 'Writing Up' Biographic Sub-Genres Suggestions by Way of a Conclusion.
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Qualitative Research Interviewing: Biographic Narrative and Semi-Structured Methods First Edition

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Unique in its conceptual coherence and the level of practical detail, this book provides a comprehensive resource for those concerned with the practice of semi-structured interviewing, the most commonly used interview approach in social research, and in particular for in-depth, biographic narrative interviewing. It covers the full range of practices from the identification of topics through to strategies for writing up research findings in diverse ways.

• ISBN-10 0803975007
• ISBN-13 978-0803975002
• Edition First Edition
• Publisher SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date June 25, 2001
• Language English
• Dimensions 6.94 x 1.23 x 9.96 inches
• Print length 424 pages
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ SAGE Publications Ltd; First Edition (June 25, 2001)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 424 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0803975007
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0803975002
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.87 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.94 x 1.23 x 9.96 inches
• #1,729 in Scientific Research
• #2,608 in Research Reference Books
• #2,995 in Reference (Books)

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Qualitative research interviewing: Biographic narrative and semi-structured methods

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ebook ∣ Biographic Narrative and Semi-Structured Methods

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9780803975019

Tom Wengraf

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09 May 2001

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Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method

• First Online: 02 January 2023

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• Benjamin Kutsyuruba 4 &
• Bernadette Mendes 4  

Part of the book series: Springer Texts in Education ((SPTE))

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This chapter describes the biographic narrative interpretive method (BNIM). As a qualitative research method, BNIM explores the stories or narratives from interviewees’ lives. BNIM is grounded in three interrelated concepts: the person’s whole life history or life story ( biography ), how the person tells it ( narrative ), and understanding that narratives are subject to social interpretation ( interpretivism ). In this chapter, we outline the brief history, concepts, and use of BNIM, provide an outline of its process, strengths and limitations, and application, and offer further readings, resources, and suggestions for student engagement activities.

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Chamberlayne, P., Bornat, J., & Wengraf, T. (2000). The turn to biographical methods in social science: Comparative issues and examples . Routledge.

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Peta, C., Wengraf, T., & McKenzie, J. (2019). Facilitating the voice of disabled women: The biographic narrative interpretive method (BNIM) in action. Contemporary Social Science, 14 (3–4), 515–527. Https://doi.org/10.1080/21582041.2018.1450520.

Roseneil, S. (2012). Using biographical narrative and life story methods to research women’s movements: FEMCIT. Women’s Studies International Forum , 35 (3), 129–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2012.03.007

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Wengraf, T. (2001). Qualitative social interviewing: Biographic narrative and semi-structured methods . SAGE.

Wengraf, T. (2004). The biographic narrative interpretive method (BNIM): Short guide November 2004 . Version 22. Middlesex University and University of East London.

Wengraf, T. (2011). Biographic narrative interpretive method (BNIM). In M. S. Lewis-Beck, A. Bryman & T. F. Liao (Eds.), The SAGE encyclopedia of social science research methods (p. 70). SAGE.

Wengraf, T. (2019). The biographic narrative interpretive method (BNIM): Short guide and detailed manual (Version 87). Middlesex University and University of East London.

Online Resources

Depth Interviews and Life Stories: A Narrative Approach: https://methods.sagepub.com/video/depth-interviews-and-life-stories-a-narrative-approach

The analysis of narratives (1:00:39): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJbnPKJmrpY

Qualitative analysis of interview data: A step-by-step guide for coding/indexing (6:50): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRL4PF2u9XA

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Benjamin Kutsyuruba & Bernadette Mendes

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Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

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Kutsyuruba, B., Mendes, B. (2023). Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method. In: Okoko, J.M., Tunison, S., Walker, K.D. (eds) Varieties of Qualitative Research Methods. Springer Texts in Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04394-9_10

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