Routledge Guide to Interviewing

Anna Bryson is Research Lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London. She has considerable experience of conducting interviews for social and historical investigation. Recent publications encompass ethnographical research on Northern Ireland, prison diaries, biography and criminology. She has advised both statutory and private organisations on the design and implementation of complex interview-based projects.Seán McConville is Professor of Law and Public Policy at Queen Mary, University of London. He has researched and taught at leading universities on both sides of the Atlantic. His interests and publications range widely, from Islamic criminal law to prison architecture, but have clustered around the philosophy and administration of punishment – historically, comparatively and in current debates. His publications include Irish Political Prisoners 1848-1922 (Routledge, 2003) and Irish Political Prisoners 1920-1962 (Routledge, 2013).

• Preface.  Introduction.  1. Thinking Ahead  2.Ethics and Legalities  3. Resources  4. Groundwork  5. Developing Technique  6. Special Care  7. Shifting Focus  8. Storage  9. Analysis  10. Possibilities.  Credo.

'Bryson and McConville have produced a comprehensive survival guide for new and seasoned interviewers which takes our everyday experience of social interaction as a starting point for demystifying the interview process. Covering all the bases from initial approaches to potential interviewees to storage and management, this book is a comprehensive ‘how to’ guide that should help to minimise mistakes and maximise the value of the interview process. Designed for a wide readership, from academics to community workers, therapists to artists, this is a plain speaking troubleshooting guide to the world of the interview.' - Lynn Abrams, University of Glasgow, UK