App-based textual interviews with hard-to-reach populations

• In Event: QRME Panel 2. Methodologies in online settings

Abstract

Social interaction is increasingly taking place on digital platforms. However, face-to-face interaction continues to remain the gold-standard of interviewing, where most of the well-known methodological contributions underscore the importance of non-verbal language in understanding the interviewee and conversation flow. This even though it has always been important within qualitative research to reflect the day-to-day experiences of participants. In this presentation. I discuss how interacting digitally and at a distance through app-based textual tools can be an advantage when doing qualitative interviews in the field of criminology.
This presentation concerns both methodological advantages and challenges met when interviewing drug market participants (N=98) on Wickr, an encrypted text-based mobile phone application. On the positive side, interviewing through apps reduces the interview effect by providing an anonymous and safe space that enhances informality and flexibility within the conversation. This led to the interviewees quite openly explaining about their illegal activities, while the interviewers felt safe and managed to establish good conversations. At the same time, the combination of synchronous and asynchronous conversations, as well as the symbiosis of online and offline events, challenge the interview being textual and app based. This leads to important reflections concerning both methodology and ethics.

Author

• Silje Bakken, University of Oslo