Guttormsen, David Sapto Adi (2010) Unlocking complexity with simplicity: a social constructionist take on 'ethnographic interviewing' in multilingual and intercultural 'multi-site' field-research. In: 9th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies, IE Business Sch, Madrid, Spain, June 24-25, 2010. Published in: Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies pp. 157-165. ISBN 978-1-906638-64-1.

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Abstract

Interviewing, as a research technique in business and management studies, has been executed in different forms and socio-cultural contexts. Various typologies and "how to" guides have been presented in methodology textbooks across the positivist and interpretivist epistemological divide. However, there is a dearth in the literature concerning interviewing integral in a social constructionist embedded ethnography with a focus on construction of meaning and 'social reality'. The 'ethnographic interview' is often depicted as mere 'conversation'. This reflects an assumption of ethnographic research being conducted within a fixed geographical area where formal interviews succumb for informal conversations. The purpose of this paper is to partake in methodological debates by disseminating field-research experiences from formal interviewing during ethnographic field-work, in addition to contribute to the "toolbox" in qualitative methodological research literature by displaying how the 'ethnographic interview' more effectively can elicit in-depth knowledge, make sense of complexity, and incorporate contextuality. The author draws upon ethnographic field-research experiences featuring 62 in-depth interviews of Scandinavian expatriates and local Hong Kong Chinese people in an intercultural context across four languages and nationalities. This paper posits two research questions. Firstly, how the aspects of multilinguality, 'multi-site', and intersubjectivity may influence the interview process in ethnographic research. Secondly, how a purposefully organised social constructionist embedded 'ethnographic interview' can effectively provide richer in-depth understanding. The author argues that mainstream International Business and Management literatures misunderstand and underuse the role and effect of interviewing in ethnographic research, and that a simplistic approach can contribute to unveiling complexity. In addition, the 'ethnographic interview' process cannot fully be understood in the conventional binary formal/informal dichotomised approach to interviewing, or as a continuum with varying degrees of structure. On the contrary, the nature of the social phenomenon being investigated and its epistemological foundation should guide the chosen interview approach.

Item Type:	Conference Item (Paper)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies
Journal or Publication Title:	Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies
Publisher:	Academic Conferences Ltd.
ISBN:	978-1-906638-64-1
Editor:	Esteves, J
Official Date:	2010
Dates:	Date Event 2010 Published
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	pp. 157-165
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Conference Paper Type:	Paper
Title of Event:	9th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies
Type of Event:	Conference
Location of Event:	IE Business Sch, Madrid, Spain
Date(s) of Event:	June 24-25, 2010

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