A1 Journal article (refereed)
The salience of a prior relationship between researcher and participants : Reflecting on acquaintance interviews (2022)

Roiha, A., & Iikkanen, P. (2022). The salience of a prior relationship between researcher and participants : Reflecting on acquaintance interviews. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1(1), Article 100003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2021.100003

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Roiha, Anssi; Iikkanen, Päivi

Journal or series: Research Methods in Applied Linguistics

eISSN: 2772-7661

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 1

Issue number: 1

Article number: 100003

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2021.100003

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84213

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the discussion on interviews in qualitative research. More specifically, we focus on acquaintance interviews (Garton & Copland, 2010), that is, interviews in which the interviewer and interviewees have already established a prior relationship. By using data from both authors’ doctoral studies in applied linguistics (Iikkanen, 2020; Roiha, 2019), we illustrate how this prior relationship becomes salient and is made use of in interviews. In this article, we focus on two themes, frame shifting and building rapport. The data excerpts presented in the article exemplify the types of frame shifts that took place in our acquaintance interviews. The findings also suggest that acquaintance interviews can offer researchers a fruitful arena for utilizing the already existing common ground between them and their research participants; a prior relationship serves as a resource to build rapport with interviewees. The ethical aspect involved in acquaintance interviews is also briefly discussed.

Keywords: interviews; interviewers; interview methods; interview study; social relations; relations; interaction; qualitative research

Free keywords: acquaintance interviews; frame shifting; rapport; pre-existing relationship

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 0