Overview

This accessible and practical guide introduces a range of creative techniques to enhance interview-based research. From using objects and documents to choosing the right interview medium, it offers fresh approaches to generating rich, credible data in conversational settings that centre the participant.

Full Product Details

9781447377184

Table of Contents

Reviews

“When you start reading this, you will want to read on. This book is truly absorbing as it elevates our understanding of the potential of interview techniques for social research.” Melanie Nind, University of Southampton “A thoughtful textbook that offers contemporary knowledge exchange about qualitative interviewing. This textbook will encourage researchers to have engaging and meaningful conversations with their participants.” Barry Hill, Northumbria University ""This is an innovative and much-needed volume on the creative processes that can be used to enhance interviews that will be valuable for researchers, students and research practitioners."" Michael Thomas, Liverpool Institute for Research in Education “New or experienced interviewers alike will find something they can take away from this practical guide which offers insights to enhance interviews and improve the richness of data they produce.” Jon Rainford, The Open University “Love it! Such a useful practical guide for qualitative researchers. The authors introduce us to the concept of the ‘enhanced interview’ and invite us to reimagine interviews as authentic, social and creative encounters, using space as an important dimension alongside approaches such as objects, model-making, visuals and storytelling to help participants open up. By building rapport, fostering psychological safety and creating conditions for flow, this approach transforms the interview into a mutually beneficial, two-way conversation rather than an extractive process. A must-read for anyone seeking to make qualitative interviews not only engaging and enjoyable but also empowering for participants and ensuring outputs that are authentic.” Chrissi Nerantzi, University of Leeds “Zakher and Wassif have created a comprehensive guide that unpacks every facet of interviews: insightful, rigorous and indispensable. The inclusion of the use of AI within this text is invaluable.” Kate Coulson, BPP University “Provides students and entry level qualitative researchers with a helpful and practical guide to the principles of qualitative interviews as method, and the enhancement of qualitative interview techniques via the use of various creative approaches, materials and objects, including in co-production interviews. It will be particularly useful for researchers adopting an interpretivist approach to their qualitative studies. The authors also provide a valuable route-map through other key qualitative texts on interviews and creative techniques … A go-to text for students who are keen to learn more about qualitative interview approaches and enhance their interviewing skills.” Karen Lumsden, Qualitative Training: Expert Training, Coaching & Consultancy in Qualitative Research ""Whether you are a new or veteran interviewer, this book offers you fresh, innovative and useful strategies to make the most out of your encounter, empowering interviewees and enriching the conversation."" Maha Bali, American University in Cairo ""This excellent, well-researched, and practical book clearly defines the creative contribution of material, conversational and situational enhancements to ensure research interviews are deep, meaningful and reflective. Deliberative, intentional and ethical consideration of interview design, conduct and data interpretation is essential in the post-COVID online environment, and creates a rich and authentic dynamic between researcher and interviewee that is mutually respectful and empowering. A highly recommended publication for those embarking on, and engaging with, research subjects that are other humans and therefore deserving of interview enhancement."" Catherine Harper, The British University in Egypt “Interviews can involve posing questions that invite participants to respond. However, when the interview is comprised of a set of pre-determined questions, important dimensions of a participant’s experience can be missed. Enhanced Interviews: Creative Approaches to Qualitative Research Interviewing offers practical guidance to researchers who want a robust dialogue that allows participants some agency in determining the direction of the interaction. Zakher and Wassif show how interviewers and interviewees can be more fully engaged in lively interviews. They discuss using objects, artifacts or documents to elicit stories that bring in culture, history and context. This concise, clearly-written book will be one you’ll refer to when planning your next qualitative study.” Janet Salmons, author of Doing Qualitative Research Online and editor of the When the Field is Online newsletter

“When you start reading this, you will want to read on. This book is truly absorbing as it elevates our understanding of the potential of interview techniques for social research.” Melanie Nind, University of Southampton “A thoughtful textbook that offers contemporary knowledge exchange about qualitative interviewing. This textbook will encourage researchers to have engaging and meaningful conversations with their participants.” Barry Hill, Northumbria University ""This is an innovative and much-needed volume on the creative processes that can be used to enhance interviews that will be valuable for researchers, students and research practitioners."" Michael Thomas, Liverpool Institute for Research in Education “New or experienced interviewers alike will find something they can take away from this practical guide which offers insights to enhance interviews and improve the richness of data they produce.” Jon Rainford, The Open University “Love it! Such a useful practical guide for qualitative researchers. The authors introduce us to the concept of the ‘enhanced interview’ and invite us to reimagine interviews as authentic, social and creative encounters, using space as an important dimension alongside approaches such as objects, model-making, visuals and storytelling to help participants open up. By building rapport, fostering psychological safety and creating conditions for flow, this approach transforms the interview into a mutually beneficial, two-way conversation rather than an extractive process. A must-read for anyone seeking to make qualitative interviews not only engaging and enjoyable but also empowering for participants and ensuring outputs that are authentic.” Chrissi Nerantzi, University of Leeds “Zakher and Wassif have created a comprehensive guide that unpacks every facet of interviews: insightful, rigorous and indispensable. The inclusion of the use of AI within this text is invaluable.” Kate Coulson, BPP University “Provides students and entry level qualitative researchers with a helpful and practical guide to the principles of qualitative interviews as method, and the enhancement of qualitative interview techniques via the use of various creative approaches, materials and objects, including in co-production interviews. It will be particularly useful for researchers adopting an interpretivist approach to their qualitative studies. The authors also provide a valuable route-map through other key qualitative texts on interviews and creative techniques … A go-to text for students who are keen to learn more about qualitative interview approaches and enhance their interviewing skills.” Karen Lumsden, Qualitative Training: Expert Training, Coaching & Consultancy in Qualitative Research ""Whether you are a new or veteran interviewer, this book offers you fresh, innovative and useful strategies to make the most out of your encounter, empowering interviewees and enriching the conversation."" Maha Bali, American University in Cairo ""This excellent, well-researched, and practical book clearly defines the creative contribution of material, conversational and situational enhancements to ensure research interviews are deep, meaningful and reflective. Deliberative, intentional and ethical consideration of interview design, conduct and data interpretation is essential in the post-COVID online environment, and creates a rich and authentic dynamic between researcher and interviewee that is mutually respectful and empowering. A highly recommended publication for those embarking on, and engaging with, research subjects that are other humans and therefore deserving of interview enhancement."" Catherine Harper, The British University in Egypt “Interviews can involve posing questions that invite participants to respond. However, when the interview is comprised of a set of pre-determined questions, important dimensions of a participant’s experience can be missed. Enhanced Interviews: Creative Approaches to Qualitative Research Interviewing offers practical guidance to researchers who want a robust dialogue that allows participants some agency in determining the direction of the interaction. Zakher and Wassif show how interviewers and interviewees can be more fully engaged in lively interviews. They discuss using objects, artifacts or documents to elicit stories that bring in culture, history and context. This concise, clearly-written book will be one you’ll refer to when planning your next qualitative study.” Janet Salmons, author of Doing Qualitative Research Online and editor of the When the Field is Online newsletter “An insightful contribution that will support researchers and educators striving to amplify minoritised voices. Its creative, rigorous methods enrich qualitative interviewing and foster more equitable knowledge making.” Nick Cartwright, University of Leeds “Enhanced Interviews reframes the research encounter as a relational, interviewee-centred dialogue. Practical, philosophically grounded, and genuinely generative – an essential companion for qualitative researchers committed to richer, more authentic data.” Narelle Lemon, Edith Cowan University “A genuinely distinctive and much needed resource – especially for postgraduate and doctoral researchers – that highlights the central role of interviewing in research. This short and accessible book is packed with practical ways to deepen conversations, strengthen participant connection, and produce richer, more thoughtful and ethically grounded insights.” Malcolm Todd, University of the Built Environment “A thoughtful and innovative guide that reimagines qualitative interviewing. Zakher and Wassif offer creative, rigorous approaches that deepen insight, empower participants, and expand the methodological toolkit for contemporary researchers.” Chris Brown, University of Southampton and University of Tübingen

Author Information

Maged Zakher is Faculty Lead for Learning and Teaching and Senior Lecturer in Cross-Cultural Management at the University of Northampton. Hoda Wassif is Associate Professor of Medical and Dental Education at the University of Bedfordshire and Joint Lead of the Faculty of Research and Knowledge Exchange at the Buckinghamshire Health & Social Care Academy.

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