This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kvale, S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Dominance Through Interviews and Dialogues

University of Aarhus, Denmark

The article discusses common conceptions of interviews as dialogues and the extensive application of qualitative research interviews in a consumer society. In the first part, an understanding of research interviews as warm, caring, and empowering dialogues is questioned by highlighting power asymmetries in interview relationships. Agonistic interview techniques, which play on contradictions and power differences, are outlined. The second part of the article points to the prevalence of dialogues as exercises of power in politics, management, and education. The third part outlines the interview production of knowledge for consumption in a postmodern society. The article concludes that recognition of power dynamics by the social construction of knowledge in interviews is necessary to ascertain objectivity and ethicality of interview research.

Key Words: interview • dialogue • agonistics • power • management • consumption • ethics

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. M. Carter, C. F. C. Jordens, C. McGrath, and M. Little You Have to Make Something of All That Rubbish, Do You? An Empirical Investigation of the Social Process of Qualitative Research Qual Health Res, September 1, 2008; 18(9): 1264 - 1276. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Cook and K. Nunkoosing Maintaining Dignity and Managing Stigma in the Interview Encounter: The Challenge of Paid-For Participation Qual Health Res, March 1, 2008; 18(3): 418 - 427. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. H. Andersen Speaking About the Unspeakable: Sexually Abused Men Striving Toward Language American Journal of Men's Health, March 1, 2008; 2(1): 25 - 36. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Brinkmann Could Interviews Be Epistemic?: An Alternative to Qualitative Opinion Polling Qualitative Inquiry, November 1, 2007; 13(8): 1116 - 1138. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Tanggaard The Research Interview as Discourses Crossing Swords: The Researcher and Apprentice on Crossing Roads Qualitative Inquiry, January 1, 2007; 13(1): 160 - 176. [Abstract] [PDF]