Beyond the existence proof: ontological conditions, epistemological implications, and in-depth interview research

Samuel Lucas ()

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2014, vol. 48, issue 1, 387-408

Abstract: In-depth interviewing is a promising method. Alas, traditional in-depth interview sample designs prohibit generalizing. Yet, after acknowledging this limitation, in-depth interview studies generalize anyway. Generalization appears unavoidable; thus, sample design must be grounded in plausible ontological and epistemological assumptions that enable generalization. Many in-depth interviewers reject such designs. The paper demonstrates that traditional sampling for in-depth interview studies is indefensible given plausible ontological conditions, and engages the epistemological claims that purportedly justify traditional sampling. The paper finds that the promise of in-depth interviewing will go unrealized unless interviewers adopt ontologically plausible sample designs. Otherwise, in-depth interviewing can only provide existence proofs, at best. Copyright The Author(s) 2014

Keywords: Ontology; Epistemology; In-depth interviewing; Sampling; Probability sampling; Non-probability sampling; Snowball sampling; Purposive sampling; Theoretical sampling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11135-012-9775-3

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