ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the multiple uses of interviews in coaching research. It focuses on structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews. While these three forms have benefits and consequences, one might be more appropriate than another to employ in your data collection. In addition to one-to-one interviews, focus groups or group interviews are also useful in data collection, either as the main method or in pilot studies, for instance, to explore ideas that you will be investigating further using another approach. While interviews have primarily been face-to-face, telephone and communication technologies such as Skype, are also being used. The important message here is to reflect on the interview process, consider how your background, position, and knowledge of the area impacts upon the data. While ownership of the data is one issue, interviews are shrouded in ethical issues.
