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Designing and conducting online interviews to investigate interesting consumer phenomena

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journal contribution
posted on 2013-03-11, 15:10 authored by Thorsten GruberThorsten Gruber, Isabelle Szmigin, Alexander E. Reppel, Roediger Voss
Purpose – This paper thoroughly explains how qualitative researchers can design and conduct online interviews to investigate interesting consumer phenomena. Design/Methodology/Approach – A semi-standardized qualitative technique called laddering was applied successfully to an online environment. Laddering allows researchers to reach deeper levels of reality and to reveal the reasons behind the reasons. A web survey that included an opinion leadership scale, filled in by 2,472 people, served as a springboard for identifying possible participants for the online laddering interviews. 22 online interviews were conducted with opinion leaders in the specific product field of digital music players such as Apple’s iPod. Findings – By conducting online interviews we were able to gather information from an interesting group of respondents that would have been difficult to contact otherwise. The whole online interviewing process was convenient for respondents who did not have to leave their homes and offices for the interviews. In general respondents enjoyed the online laddering interviewing experience and in particular the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The most valued attributes of Apple’s iPod are “control elements” and “design”, which are linked to values such as hedonism and individuality. Originality/value – The paper is the first to systematicallydescribe how qualitative researchers can conduct laddering interviews online. By explaining the online interviewing process in detail, we dispel criticism that qualitative research reports are often unclear, ambiguous and unstructured. Based on the detailed description of the online laddering process, other researchers can use the technique to get deeper insights into interesting consumer phenomena.

History

School

  • Business and Economics

Department

  • Business

Citation

GRUBER, T. ... et al, 2008. Designing and conducting online interviews to investigate interesting consumer phenomena. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 11 (3), pp.256-274.

Publisher

© Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2008

ISSN

1352-2752

Language

  • en