Skip to main content

The Qualitative Interview in Media Production Studies

  • Chapter
Advancing Media Production Research

Abstract

In media production studies the qualitative research interview is frequently used as a tool in the generation of data, and thus in building the analytical object. However, the research contributions—including my own work—contain only to a very limited degree methodological reflections on what characterizes this kind of research interview and its application in the given analytical context. This somewhat paradoxical situation is particularly striking when compared with the situation in audience studies. Theoretical coherence and methodological transparency have been part of the quality demands for many years within this research tradition. On the basis of this difference between audience studies and production studies, the aim of the chapter is to help clarify what can be said to characterize the special configuration of the qualitative research interview genre when used in media production studies. I hope that this will help advance the validity of our research projects as well as the overall level of theoretical and methodological self-reflexivity of this growing and increasingly important research effort.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aguira, L. L. M. and Schneider, C. J. (eds) (2012) Researching amongst Elites (Farnham: Ashgate).

    Google Scholar 

  • Alasuutari, P. (1995) Researching Culture: Qualitative Method and Cultural Studies (London: Sage).

    Google Scholar 

  • Borer, M. I. (2012) ‘Interviewing celebrities: Strategies for getting beyond the sound bite’ in L. L. M. Aguira and C. J. Schneider (eds), Researching amongst Elites (pp. 89–102) (Farnham: Ashgate).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruun, H. (2011) Dansk tv-satire. Underholdning med kant (København: Books on Demand).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruun, H. (2012) ‘Changing production cultures in television satire.’ Northern Lights 10(1), 41–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruun, H. (2014) ‘Conceptualizing the audience in political talk show production.’ European Journal of Communication 29(1), 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, J. T. (2008) Production Culture (Durham: Duke University Press).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Frandsen, K. (2007) ‘Produktionsanalyse: Teoretiske og metodiske problemstill-inger’ in H. Bruun and K. Frandsen (eds), TV-produktion—nye vilkår (pp. 23–54) (Frederiksberg: Forlaget Samfundslitteratur).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamson, J. (1995) ‘Stopping the spin and becoming a prop: Fieldwork on Hollywood elites’ in R. Hertz and J. Imber (eds), Studying Elites Using Qualitative Methods (pp. 83–93) (London: Sage).

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Grindstaff, L. (2002) The Money Shot: Trash, Class, and the Making of TV Talk Shows (Chicago: University of Chicago Press).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, W. S. (2011) ‘Strategies for conducting elite interviews.’ Qualitative Research 11(4), 431–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, K. (2012) ‘“Studying up” Wall Street: Reflections on theory and methodology’ in L. L. M. Aguira, and C. J. Schneider (eds), Researching Amongst Elites (pp. 29–48) (Farnham: Ashgate).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kvale, S. and Brinkmann, S. (2015) InterView: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing, 3rd edn (London: Sage).

    Google Scholar 

  • Littig, B. (2009) ‘Interviewing the elite—Interviewing experts: Is there a difference?’ in A. Borger, B. Littig, and W. Menz (eds), Interviewing Experts (pp. 98–116) (Chippenham: Palgrave Macmillan).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikecz, R. (2012) ‘Interviewing elites: Addressing methodological issues.’ Qualitative Inquiry 18(6), 482–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, N. and Stokes, P. (2012) ‘Elite interviewing and the role of sector context: An organisational case from the football industry.’ Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal 15(4), 438–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moyser, G. and Wagstaffe, M. (eds) (1987) Research Methods for Elite Studies (London: Allen & Unwin).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortner, S. B. (2009) ‘Studying sideways: Ethnographic access in Hollywood’ in J. T. Caldwell, M. Banks, and V. Mayer (eds), Production Studies: Cultural Studies of Media Industries (pp. 175–189) (New York: Routledge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, D. (1996) ‘Doing politics. Elite interviewing: Approaches and pitfalls.’ Politics 16(3), 199–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, S. and Lewer, J. (2012) ‘Getting in and finding out: Accessing and interviewing elites in business and work contexts’ in L. L. M. Aguira and C. J. Schneider (eds), Researching amongst Elites (pp. 71–88) (Farnham: Ashgate).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R. J. (1995) ‘Interviewing important people in big companies’ in R. Hertz and J. Imber (eds), Studying Elites Using Qualitative Methods (pp. 3–17) (London: Sage).

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Thuesen, F. (2011) ‘Navigating between dialogue and confrontation: Phronesis and emotions in interviewing elites on ethnic discrimination.’ Qualitative Inquiry 17(7), 613–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welch, C., Marschan-Piekkari, R., Penttinen, H., and Tahvanainen, M. (2002) ‘Corporate elites as informants in qualitative international business research.’ International Business Review 11(1), 611–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2016 Hanne Bruun

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bruun, H. (2016). The Qualitative Interview in Media Production Studies. In: Paterson, C., Lee, D., Saha, A., Zoellner, A. (eds) Advancing Media Production Research. Global Transformations in Media and Communication Research. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137541949_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics