Short course
Research Interviews: Styles and Techniques
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online or Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Dates and time:
26/08/2026 - 26/08/202611:00 - 13:00
Study format:
Online - live
This session will introduce you to the interview as a method to collect data. We will also explore and examine how each interview can involve very different participants (eg elite and migrants) and contexts (eg social and environmental circumstances).
You will also consider the structure of a one-to-one interview schedule, with the aim to collectively explore the importance of piloting interview questions.
With all of this in mind, this session will also introduce some of the ethical dimensions that different researchers will need to consider when using this data collection technique.
This session is aimed at external postgraduates (those not studying at Oxford University) who are applying for, or are currently enrolled on, a PhD programme.
The session runs in a hybrid format – so you can join us in person, in Oxford, or attend online.
This session is part of our Graduate School programme of research skills training. To stay informed of future courses and training events, sign up to receive email updates.
Key learning outcomes
- To justify and understand why interviews can be a necessary provision in research to illuminate the unobservable.
- Think ethically about differing interview research environments.
- To appreciate how interviews can help uncover events and the meaning people attach to them.
Tutors
Sarah Frodsham is Co-Director of the Graduate School and Chair of Ethics at Oxford Lifelong Learning, Department for Continuing Education.
Alistair Beecher is Co-Director of the Graduate School and a history tutor at Oxford Lifelong Learning, Department for Continuing Education.
About our research skills training sessions
In 2024 we launched a trial series of research skills sessions open to postgraduate researchers external to the University and, due to the sucess of these, the sessions have run again each year since.
Each session is independent of each other and can be applied for separately, although a fee reduction is available for anyone applying for all six sessions.
All sessions can be attended either in Oxford or online.
Learn more about the other individual sessions on offer as part of this series:
- Academic Reading: Approach and Critique
- Halfway Down the Stairs: Research Approaches
- Writing an Abstract
- Improving Your Presentations
- Writing Your Methodology
- Postgraduate Research Skills Training Sessions (discounted package)
Recommended reading
Essential readings
- Brinkman, S., & Kvale, S. (2018). Doing Interviews. London: SAGE.
- Dodgson, M. K, & Trotman, A. J. (2022). Lessons Learned: Challenges When Conducting Interview-Based Research in Auditing and Methods of Coping. Auditing : A Journal of Practice and Theory, 41(1), 101-113
- Wilson, V. (2016). Research Methods: Interviews. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 11(1(S)), 47-49
Further readings
Gubrium, J. F, & Holstein, J. (2001). Handbook of Interview Research. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Upon successful completion of this session, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford.
After the session, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Fee for this training session | £100.00 |
Payment
Successful applicants will be emailed an invoice for the training session fees.
If you register for all 6 sessions a discount of 20% is available. To obtain this discount please apply for the discounted package.
Learn more about the other individual sessions on offer as part of this series:
- Academic Reading: Approach and Critique
- Halfway Down the Stairs: Research Approaches
- Writing an Abstract
- Improving Your Presentations
- Writing Your Methodology
- Postgraduate Research Skills Training Sessions (discounted package)
Module code: T26P019GSP
This session is aimed at external postgraduates (those not studying at Oxford University) who are applying for, or are currently enrolled on, a PhD programme.
Applicants must submit a current CV which will allow the course tutors to assess your suitability for this training session.
How to apply
To apply for this session, please select the green ‘apply’ button.
Application deadline
Applications will close at 9am UK time on Wednesday 19 August 2026.