Interviesranging

Interviesranging is a term found in some discussions of mixed-methods research that describes an approach combining interviews with interval or range-based measurement. The term appears to be a portmanteau of interview and ranging and is not a widely standardized method; it may occur in nascent or speculative literature rather than established practice.

Conceptually, interviesranging aims to capture both qualitative insights and bounds on quantitative variables. Respondents may be asked to indicate a plausible range for an attribute—such as income, risk perception, or satisfaction—in addition to providing textual or narrative information. Analysts treat the collected data by preserving interval information and applying techniques compatible with interval data, such as interval regression or imputation, alongside qualitative analysis of the interview content.

Methodologically, a typical process involves designing an interview guide that includes explicit range prompts, training interviewers to elicit consistent ranges, and recording both the ranges and the accompanying qualitative responses. Data processing may convert ranges into usable statistics (for example, midpoints) or retain the full interval structure for nonparametric or interval-valued analysis. Ethical considerations include safeguarding privacy and minimizing respondent burden, since providing ranges can be more cognitively demanding than supplying single-point estimates.

Applications and limitations: potential uses include market research, public policy, and social science studies where uncertainty or variability is central. Limitations include variability in how respondents interpret ranges, potential inconsistencies across interviewers, and ongoing debates about validity, reliability, and analytical rigor. At present, interviesranging remains a niche concept with limited empirical validation and is often discussed alongside related methods such as mixed-methods research, interval-censored data, and range-based surveys.