All this means that the decision to use qualitative interviewing should not be made lightly. It is, in fact, one of the most – possibly the most – widely used methods in qualitative research, and for some very good reasons. It is considered by many to be an appropriate and practicable way to get at some of what qualitative researchers see as the central ontological components of social reality.
Indeed, qualitative interviewing has become such a commonplace that it is often taken to be the ‘gold standard of qualitative research’ (Silverman, 2000: 291–292). The decision to use qualitative interviewing, or indeed any other method should be based on sound ontological and epistemological principles, and tied into specific research questions. These principles should guide the practice of interviewing, and the process of analysis.