230161 SE Doing and analyzing interviews: Qualitative research in STS (2012S)

We live in an 'interview society', i.e. a society permeated by the interview form, argues Silverman (1993) and points at the institutionalisation of the autobiographical form (Plummer 2001 also speaks of the autobiographical society) through multiple practices. The interview has become a key, if not primary, source of information and is widely used for gathering it. Much of what we know about the world, we know through some kind of interview situation.
At first glance, the interview seems to have become simple and self-evident: we go and ask questions, which means we coordinate a conversation to obtain the desired information. Practice and the complexities at work in interview situations quickly reveal how 'tricky' the method is in its performance.
In addressing the issue of doing and analyzing interviews in an STS context, the seminar will proceed in three steps:
1) The first step will map out different interview techniques and address their potential and limitations.
2) The second step will consist of three units, which will address three different research projects that are or have been performed at the department. Putting the research question at the centre we will together map out the issues to be studied and look into the different interview methods that would give us access to specific sorts of information. The three fields will (1) cover more technology-oriented issues, (2) address questions in the health context, and (3) focus on lives in research.
3) Finally in the last step, we will have two units where different methods of data analysis will be the focus. This part will consist in mapping out different methods of analysis, but also in doing and presenting analysis work in smaller groups.