ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the reader with an overview of the first studies of the book, setting the scene for the chapters in Part I of the volume. It places the studies in a wider research and methodological context and seeks to highlight the main issues in conducting qualitative comparative research. The interview study includes 15 countries altogether (Bosnia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and Turkey), with nine countries participating in both the study of politicians and journalists. The chapter also explores sample selection criteria for the two studies; countries, media outlets, and sampling strategies; sample description; interview questions; ethical issues and operationalization; and reliability of interview questions.
