A Reflexive Lens on Preparing and Conducting Semi-structured Interviews with Academic Colleagues

Area of Science:

• Qualitative Research Methodology
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• Semi-structured interviews are common in qualitative research, but specific guidance is lacking for interviews with academic colleagues in similar practice areas at different institutions.
• Researchers often navigate dual roles as 'insider' and 'outsider,' researcher and participant, especially when interviewing peers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical and theoretical perspectives on conducting semi-structured interviews with academic colleagues in higher education.
• To offer guidelines for managing the blurred roles of researcher and participant in peer-based qualitative research.

Main Methods:

• Adopting a pragmatic constructivist stance.
• Drawing on existing scholarship in research methodology and qualitative interviewing.
• Focusing on the practicalities of interviewing academic peers in similar professional contexts.

Main Results:

• Interviewing academic colleagues offers opportunities for rich, curriculum-related data.
• Researchers must be aware of their positionality and the fluidity of roles during interviews.
• A flexible, conversational interviewing style within research parameters is recommended.

Conclusions:

• This article offers valuable insights for researchers conducting qualitative interviews with peers in higher education.
• The guidelines benefit researchers working with colleagues in similar fields and contexts, regardless of their working relationship.
• Awareness of role fluidity and positionality is crucial for effective qualitative research interviewing.