ABSTRACT
In recent years, the social nature of project, programme and portfolio management has become widely recognised. Researchers are beginning to recognise, too, that the similarities of project management to the social sciences requires alternative approaches for research and greater use has been made of qualitative and mixed mode research. Interviews have long been a favourite means of gathering qualitative data and many project management-based studies have relied on this approach. This chapter addresses the range and selection of interview methods for research in project-related studies and provides an overview of techniques. Despite its more frequent use, interviewing is not an uncontested approach to gathering research data. Criticisms of the approach are reviewed and aspects of data quality are examined. The planning and preparation of an interview are set out including special situations involving various types of respondent.
