This course will address the basic issues and challenges surrounding interviews of elites in political science. In a discipline that aims to understand decisions made by those in power, gaining access to elite networks, whether in the political, economic, bureaucratic, or societal realm, is crucial. We will discuss who counts as an elite, the purposes of elite interviews—for example, how much can be gained beyond examining politicians’ public comments on a given issue—, different sampling strategies, reliability and validity, ethical concerns, and potential safety issues. We will complement the assigned readings by discussing practical challenges based on the research experience of both instructors.
Trinity College.
IESP-UERJ.