Intervjubasert

Intervjubasert is a term used in some Scandinavian-language discourse to describe research or reporting that is based primarily on interviews with participants. It covers a range of interview forms, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews, and typically emphasizes participant perspectives over third-person observation. The word combines intervju, the Norwegian and Swedish word for interview, with basert, meaning based, and is often encountered in Norwegian- and Swedish-language academic and journalistic writing.

In research contexts, intervjubasert methods are used to explore experiences, beliefs, and meanings from the subject’s point of view. Data collection centers on interviews, with subsequent transcription, coding, and thematic analysis. Researchers may triangulate interview data with other sources, but the core evidence is interview-derived.

In journalism and policy analysis, intervjubasert reporting aims to illuminate issues through direct accounts from affected individuals or stakeholders, seeking depth over breadth. Critics caution that heavy reliance on interviews can introduce selection and recall biases, and may limit generalizability if not complemented with additional data types.

Best practices for intervjubasert work include careful sampling, transparent documentation of interview guides, rigorous transcription standards, intercoder reliability checks for coding, and explicit discussion of ethical considerations, including consent and anonymity. When used responsibly, intervjubasert approaches can produce rich, contextual understandings of social phenomena.

See also: Qualitative research, Interview, Ethnography, Narrative inquiry.