Interviews mit Experten

The eminent importance of expert interviews for research practice is undisputed. They are part of everyday research practice in many social science disciplines, whether as an independent survey method or as an explorative or complementary instrument in the context of quantitative or qualitative research designs. On the other hand, despite (or because of?) their practical relevance, expert interviews are methodologically little reflected upon. The present volume aims to remedy this deficit and offer a clear, well-founded introduction to the theory and practice of expert interviews that is oriented towards practical research problems. In addition to the discussion of the methodological background and central basic assumptions of the sociology of knowledge (concept of expert, forms of knowledge), the preparation, implementation and evaluation of expert interviews is of particular importance.