Research Interviews: Styles and Techniques



Overview

This session will introduce you to the interview as a method to collect data. We will also explore and examine how each interview can involve very different participants (eg elite and migrants) and contexts (eg social and environmental circumstances).

You will also consider the structure of a one-to-one interview schedule, with the aim to collectively explore the importance of piloting interview questions.

With all of this in mind, this session will also introduce some of the ethical dimensions that different researchers will need to consider when using this data collection technique.

This session is aimed at external postgraduates who are applying for, or are currently enrolled on, a PhD programme.

Programme details

Key learning outcomes

  • To justify and understand why interviews can be a necessary provision in research to illuminate the unobservable.
  • Think ethically about differing interview research environments.
  • To appreciate how interviews can help uncover events and the meaning people attach to them.

​​​​Tutors

Sarah Frodsham is Co-Director of the Graduate School and Chair of Ethics at the Department of Continuing Education.

Alistair Beecher is Co-Director of the Graduate School and a history tutor at the Department for Continuing Education.

About our research skills training sessions

In 2024 we launched a trial series of research skills sessions open to postgraduate researchers external to the University and, due to the sucess of these, the sessions have been expanded for spring 2025.

All sessions can be attended either in Oxford or online.

Other sessions on offer:

Digital Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Fees

Description Costs
Fee for this training session £100.00

Funding

There are no sources of funding (scholarships, bursaries, etc) available for applicants.

Payment

Successful applicants will be emailed an invoice for the training session fee. 

Application

This session is aimed at postgraduate students who are applying for or are currently enrolled on a PhD programme.

Applicants must submit a current CV which will allow the course tutors to assess your suitability for this training session.

To apply for this session, please select the green 'apply' button at the top of this page.

Research skills sessions

Learn more about the other individual sessions on offer as part of this series:

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support