160144 PS PS Advanced Topics in Linguistics II (2019S)

Interviews are a widespread method for obtaining data in linguistics and in the neighboring social scientific disciplines. Several methodical techniques and procedures of interviewing and data analysis have been developed, all of which crucially depend on the respective research interests and epistemological/theoretical approaches. In this course, we will work with three “types” of qualitative interviewing, the so-called ‘expert interview’, the ‘narrative interview’ and the ‘ethnographic interview’/the interview as a ‘conversation’.
The goals for this course are that participants practically engage with the three types of interviewing and reflect the methodic procedures. That is, we will be dealing with questions such as: Which type of interview fits to my research interests/research project? Which data do I obtain from the method concerned? How do I prepare the interview? How do I do the actual interviewing and how do I process the data for analysis?
After joint introductory reading on the respective interview types, participants will conduct their own interviews and transcribe parts which will be used in joint data sessions where participants will reflect on their practice and try out analytical approaches.