Conversational Space and Participant Shame in Interviewing

Abstract

In this article, the author presents a “failed” interview that seemingly provided no usable data. The audiotape segments of participant talk were nearly inaudible and most of the interview could not be transcribed. Upon repeated readings of salvageable fragments, however, a pattern of silencing became noticeable. The author suggests that participant silence is a collaboratively produced constraint stemming from an unsuccessful subtextual negotiation about the linguistic environment of the interview. She explores the phenomenon of participant shame and the role of the researcher in expanding conversational space to allow for the expression of shameful storylines. Current notions of what is “sensitive” research unduly limit researcher's understandings of the collaborative and fragile nature of the interview setting. Research on any topic may turn sensitive if the participant's story includes elements that are potentially distressing and necessary to the storyline. Means for recognizing and accommodating participant shame during the interview process are suggested.