Interviewing Experts (ECPR Research Methods) - Methodology

In this review of Interviewing Experts (ECPR Research Methods) the bottom line is clear: this collection is best for social science researchers and graduate students who need a rigorous, practice-oriented guide to expert interviews. The book brings together experienced theorists and practitioners to map both the theoretical foundations and practical choices involved in conducting expert interviews, making it useful as a methodological reference and a classroom text. Read as a review, the work stands out for its comprehensive scope and for filling a gap where methodological reflection on expert interviews has been surprisingly thin.

Key Features

• Comprehensive overview: The book surveys both theory and practice so readers can ground interview techniques in methodological debate.
• Contributions by practitioners: Chapters are written by experienced theorists and practitioners, offering concrete insight from field work.
• Focus on expert interviews: It addresses the specific logic of interviewing experts rather than treating interviews as a single generic method.
• Academic relevance: The collection is suitable for use in graduate courses and research design, linking conceptual issues to applied choices.
• Reflective orientation: The editors encourage methodological reflection, helping readers weigh trade-offs in sampling, questioning, and interpretation.

Who It's For

Interviewing Experts is aimed at qualitative social scientists, doctoral students, and early-career researchers who design or conduct expert interviews in political science, public policy, and comparative politics. Its emphasis on both theory and practice makes it particularly useful for researchers who need to justify methodological choices in theses, dissertations, or grant proposals.

Researchers who seek step-by-step field manuals for casual or nonacademic interviewing may find the tone more reflective than procedural; those looking solely for introductory how-to checklists without theoretical context should look for concise manuals instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a comprehensive theoretical framework that clarifies why expert interviews differ from other qualitative approaches.
• Includes contributions from experienced practitioners, offering practical illustrations grounded in real research.
• Works well as a graduate-level text, making methodological debates accessible to students and early-career scholars.

Cons

• Not written as a quick field manual, so readers seeking short checklists may find it more conceptual than procedural.

Specifications

Title	Interviewing Experts (ECPR Research Methods)
Editors / Authors	A. Bogner, B. Littig, W. Menz
Subject	Expert interviews; qualitative social science methodology
Approach	Theory and practice of expert interviews
Intended audience	Researchers, graduate students, practitioners
Use case	Research design, methodology courses, methodological reflection

Our Verdict

Interviewing Experts is a strong methodological resource for scholars who need a thoughtful, practice-informed account of expert interviewing. It is good value for researchers who want to integrate theory with field practice and who need defensible methodological arguments in academic work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus more on theory or practice?
It combines both: chapters address theoretical foundations while contributors provide practical insights from field experience.

Is it suitable for classroom use?
Yes, it works well as a graduate-level text for courses on qualitative methods and research design.

Is it a quick how-to manual?
No, the book is reflective and methodological rather than a short checklist-style field manual.