James and Busher focus on helping the reader to understand the methodological and epistemological challenges of carrying out online interviews in the virtual environment. They highlight the many new ethical issues that face researchers in this medium. The authors also encourage an engagement with the critical theoretical issues that must be considered in the conduct of online interviews. The resulting book is a well-reasoned introduction to the challenges and opportunities offered by online interviewing, drawing on a wide range of international sources to support these discussions.
This is an ideal first introduction for anyone who is interested in using online methods, and who has an interest in the theory of the method. It will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate and postgraduate level students in the social sciences, and for professional researchers.
Nalita joined the Centre for Labour Market Studies in 2004. Prior to this she worked as an educational manager at Nottingham Trent University, and later for the British Psychological Society where she was responsible for training and standards in psychology education. She has a BA Hons in Sociology from Staffordshire University, an MA in Human Resource Management from De Montfort University and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Leicester. Nalita is also an Associate Registered Practitioner of the Higher Education Academy.
Dr. Hugh Busher is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education University of Leicester who gained extensive experience of teaching in secondary schools before moving into Higher Education. He researches and teaches to Masters and Doctoral students research methods, the construction of social justice through critical perspectives on the interactions of people, power and culture in mainly school-based learning communities, and the conflicts surrounding students′ voices and teachers′ development in particular institutional and policy contexts. Along with Dr Nalita James in 2009. he published a book on Online Interviewing with SAGE. He is currently co-leading a project on the learning experiences and changing identities of marginalised adult learners on Access courses.