Open-Ended Interviews, Power, and Emotional Labor

Abstract

This article investigates the power dynamics of the interview process and the connected emotional labor, drawing on examples from a recent study on workplace grievances in which most data collection was through open-ended interviews. By exploring the shifts of power and the emotional labor demands in the qualitative, open-ended interview, this article emphasizes that power shifts and emotions within the interview are, themselves, important data. A greater awareness of shifts in interviewer and interviewee power and emotional labor in the interview context helps the researcher better understand the nuances of the data, provides the researcher with more information about the interviewee and the research topic, and facilitates greater insights into the interview process, the participants, and the nature of the topics discussed.

Hierarchy without Hegemony: Locating Boys in an Inclusive School Setting

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“…As Atkinson and colleagues (2003:28) note, ''The apprehension over 'over-rapport' has moved to 'a celebration of intimacy.' '' For many qualitative researchers, closeness between researchers and research participants is virtually a requirement for good qualitative research (Adler and Adler 1987;Ambert et al 1995;Atkinson et al 2003;deMarrais 2004;Flavin and Desautels 2006;Gilbert 2001;Hoffman 2007;Kleinman and Copp 1993;Punch 1986;Toma 2000;Van Maanen 2004).…”