Work

Interviewing elites in education: Fun or folly?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article reflects upon the extensive experience of the authors in conducting interviews with elites over several decades, primarily within the field of education. They discuss problems and possibilities in undertaking studies focused on interviews with high-ranking individuals such as secretaries of state, permanent secretaries and headteachers while also highlighting the importance of including a spectrum of relevant other high-status performers in their research. In doing so, the authors explore the complexities of defining, accessing, developing an approach, interviewing, transcribing, analysing, and reporting on research into ‘elites’ and consider the practical and methodological lessons they have learned from their long-term collaborative studies of this kind. The article concludes with some thoughts on fun and folly in undertaking such research.

Source: Management in Education

DOI: 10.1177/08920206261468443

Authors: Peter Ribbins, Brian Sherratt

Institution: University of Birmingham

Language: English

Topic: Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400