Beate Littig

Introduction: Expert Interviews — An Introduction to a New Methodological Debate

Before we go any further, we would like to begin by providing the reader with a step-by-step introduction to the methodological debate surrounding expert interviews. In doing so, we will start with a brief discussion of the generally accepted advantages and risks of expert interviews in research practice (1). We will follow this by outlining current trends in the sociological debate regarding experts and expertise, since expert interviews are — at least on the surface — defined by their object, namely the expert (2). We will then conclude with a look at the current methodological debate regarding expert interviews, an overview of the layout and structure of this book, as well as summaries of the 12 articles it contains (3).

Interviewing the Elite — Interviewing Experts: Is There a Difference?

A comparison of the Anglo-American methodological debate in the social sciences with its counterpart in the German-speaking world reveals that scientists in the latter have now regarded expert interviews as a distinct interview form for some years (Flick and others, 2003, Bogner and others, 2005, Glaser and Laudel, 2004, Mieg and Naf, 2006). With few exceptions, for example (Brandl and Klinger, 2006), the notion of the elite interview is rarely, if ever, encountered in German-speaking countries. Yet the reverse is the case in the Anglo-American and (given the dominance of English as the language of scientific publication) international social sciences debate see, for example (Gubrium and Holstein, 2002 or Denzin and Lincoln, 2000), where the concept of the expert interview appears largely unknown. However, closer study reveals that in many respects the content of publications on these two interview forms does not really differ fundamentally. In fact, quite the opposite applies: central themes in both methodological traditions include the problems of gaining access to the elite or to experts (particularly at a high level) as well as the specifics of interaction and the actual interview process itself. Although not identical, even the respective target group definitions (experts and the elite) for such interviews overlap. The focus of interest in both generally lies on the professional (functional) elite and on professional experts. Indeed, it would seem that the differences between interviews with the elite and interviews with experts lie primarily in differing social and political sciences research traditions and interests.

Socio-Translational Collaboration in Qualitative Inquiry The Case of Expert Interviews

In the face of long-standing neglect for issues of multilingualism in qualitative inquiry, this article proposes a novel collaborative approach to coping with translation issues in interviewing. Building on recent efforts at developing a better understanding of linguistic challenges to research methodology, the authors call for the systematic involvement of qualified interpreters and translators throughout the process of qualitative inquiry, and describe their role in all relevant stages of a research project, using expert interviews as a case in point. It is argued that such socio-translational collaboration can help ensure that social scientists engaging in qualitative inquiry will be “less lost in translation.”

EDITORIAL: Concepts, approaches and problems of work–life balance

This special issue of European Societies is based on two assumptions. On the one hand, the term ‘work /life balance’ (WLB) seems to have become a favorite formula in today’s literature about the (post-)modern working world. It apparently addresses the essential problems of every-day life, i.e., the need to satisfy the large variety of needs and desires in a very welltargeted, personal, and easily comprehensible manner. On the other hand, such a formula obviously draws the attention of social scientists, who want to find out about the underlying social substance and about its potential to help them analyze future developments. The disparity between the multitude of anecdotes from various institutional or individual sources and the need for systematic research and conceptualization, however, have clearly affected the meaning given to this concept, which is sometimes deemed to be merely a descriptive expression or a rather short-lived entrepreneurial trend or a fashionable concept with a short-shelf life. This edition does not intend to contradict the aforesaid viewpoint, as it is certainly true in many cases. Yet we do believe that, due to its specific content, the concept can still be helpful in some ways: Firstly, the formula refers to a number of qualitative changes in Western European societies, which play an essential role in the social organization of work. The interplay between the welfare sector, economy, family, and communities is especially important in this connection. Secondly, this formula reflects the deregulation of working relationships, which increasingly shifts the regulation of and responsibility for such relationships to the individual. Thirdly, this formula gives us insight into new social risks and problems, both at an individual and social level, which may result from this transformation of labor in society. This clearly presents an appealing challenge to the social sciences to consider sociostructural changes and institutional regimes in combination with individual preferences and action strategies. The composition of articles focuses on special aspects of the WLB debate from a sociological perspective. The editors were mainly looking

On high heels: A praxiography of doing Argentine tango

Argentine tango has been investigated by scholars of various disciplinary backgrounds. A broad range of empirical methods has been used in this research. But little attention has been paid to the artefacts which participate in the practice of Argentine tango. Following the programmatic claims of the ‘practical turn’ in the social sciences and in cultural studies, practices are always linked with the materiality of the practising bodies and of the artefacts participating in practices. Thus materiality is indispensable for the analysis of any practice. How materiality can be included into the generating of data and the analysis is little discussed in practice theories. High heels in Argentine tango are the example to demonstrate the necessary application of various qualitative research instruments to investigate the role of artefacts in practice. High heeled female dancing shoes as used in Argentine tango are analysed with respect to their gendered performative and symbolic impact.

Methodological Reflections on Practice Oriented Theories

from the Table of Contents: Methodologies and Methodological Aspects of Practice Theories; Conceptualisation of the Individual and of the Body in Practice Oriented Empirical Research; Empirical Practice Theory Oriented Case Studies and Methodological Reflections;

Interviews mit Experten und Expertinnen

Die Frage, welche Rolle die Geschlechterverhaltnisse bei der Durchfuhrung von Expertlnnen-Interviews spielen, wird selten gestellt (eine Ausnahme davon sind Abels und Behrens im vorliegenden Band). Dies ist erstaunlich, ist doch die Frauenforschung schon lange und neuerdings auch die Geschlechterforschung darum bemuht, soziale Interaktionen und soziale Strukturen als „vergeschlechtlicht“, als beeinflusst von Geschlechterverhaltnissen, zu analysieren. Konsequenterweise ist deshalb auch die Frage zu stellen, ob sozialwissenschaftliche Methoden, im vorliegenden Fall ExpertInneninterviews, geschlechterneutral sind oder ob und inwiefern die Kategorie Geschlecht bei der Verwendung dieser Methode eine Rolle spielt (Behnke/Meuser 1999). Will man diesen Fragen nachgehen, ist zunachst zu uberlegen wie sich die Kategorie Geschlecht im ExpertInneninterview manifestiert und anhand welcher Indikatoren die Vergeschlechtlichung des ExpertInneninterviews beschrieben werden kann. Oder noch grundsatzlicher gefragt: Woran lasst sich erkennen, dass die Kategorie Geschlecht beim ExpertInneninterview bedeutsam ist? Was folgt daraus methodisch und methodologisch fur das ExpertInneninterview?

Good work? Sustainable work and sustainable development: a critical gender perspective from the Global North

ABSTRACT Work has just recently been recognized as an important topic in the discourse of development. But often it stays unclear how work is related to issues of gender equality, an indispensable goal of sustainable development from its start. The article explores how gender and work is addressed in three approaches to work and sustainable development, which are currently discussed in the German language literature on this topic: in the current mainstream concept of the green economy and green jobs, in alternative concepts of degrowth or postgrowth societies and in eco-feminist concepts of caring societies. The critical discussion of these approaches leads to the argument that a fundamental reassessment and reorganization of the critical society-nature relationship and consequently a new conceptualization of sustainable work is needed.

Object, perspectives and methodology of praxeological research

This article summarises the main strands of argumentation in the articles collected in this book. Screening the contributions in line with the objectives of practice oriented research, the perspectives used and the methodologies presented, it concludes that practice theory oriented research needs to be multiple. This multiplicity extends not only to the methodologies, methods and theories used, but potentially to the disciplines involved as well. Thus it opens up tendencies of potential homogenization of practice oriented research in favour of methodological diversity related to its objectives.

Wie ungleich ist die Welt

Wenn von der Messung von Ungleichheit die Rede ist, geht es zumeist um Einkommensungleichheit, sei es innerhalb nationalstaatlicher Gesellschaften oder zwischen verschiedenen Nationalstaaten. Aussagen uber das Ausmas der Ungleichheit basieren auf der statistischen Berechnung einer Kennzahl, die die Ungleichheitsverteilung misst bzw. die relative Konzentration innerhalb einer Verteilung ausdruckt. Der Beitrag stellt verschiedene Ungleichheitsmase in ihren Grundzugen dar und diskutiert zentrale Ergebnisse ihrer Anwendung auf die globale Einkommensverteilung.