Biographical research through the looking glass of pandemic times: Challenges and possibilities of online interviewing

Abstract

In biographical interviewing, building strong relationships characterised by rapport and trust with our participants, through direct face-to-face interactions, is critical. However, the emergence of Covid-19 calls into question the continuity of co-presence research as researchers increasingly adopt online interviewing techniques. The mobilisation of digital inquiry is by no means new in social scientific research (Fielding et al. 2017; James and Busher 2009) nonetheless, the need for Social Distancing to control virus transmission means that cloud-based video conferencing is being more frequently utilised in qualitative research (Dodds and Hess 2021; Lupton 2020). This presents serious challenges in how we ‘do’ biographical research, how we forge trusting bonds with participants whilst negotiating unprecedented social and temporal distancing that characterises the current context.