ELSA-VU Lunch meeting: The added value of oral diaries to semi-structured interviews

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Practical information

In-depth interviews remain one of the most widely used methods for exploring the experiences of vulnerable populations in qualitative research. However, because interviews invite respondents to construct accounts of themselves in interaction with the researcher and within specific socio-cultural contexts, the extent to which they capture participants’ own perspectives and meanings can be questioned. What participants say is inevitably shaped by the interviewer’s questions, assumptions, and interactional cues.

Oral diaries offer an alternative methodological approach. Unlike semi-structured interviews, they invite participants to document their activities, thoughts, feelings, and observations over a defined period, often in close temporal proximity to the events described. In this presentation, Anja Eleveld examines the added value of oral diaries alongside semi-structured interviews in her research on platform workers in the hospitality sector.

The meeting will be online. After the presentation there’s time for a Q&A and discussion. You are cordially invited to join.

LEVEL: Basic

METHOD: Qualitative

ABOUT THE LECTURER: Anja Eleveld is professor social-legal studies in precarious work and poverty at the VU University. She graduated in Labour Law (cum laude) (University of Amsterdam), Political Science (University of Amsterdam) and Cultural Anthropology (Utrecht University). In 2012 she obtained her PhD at the Law Faculty of Leiden University.

PREREQUISITES: No prior knowledge required.

REGISTRATION: If you would like to attend this meeting, please send an email to Anniek van der Schuijt, E: j.m.vander.schuijt@vu.nl, on 4 February at the latest. She will send you the Teams link to join the online meeting. If you are interested but not available, please let Anniek know and a recording of the lecture can be sent to you afterwards.

ELS Academy’s No-Show Policy:
Please note that the workshops are given by experts in the field who do this on a voluntary basis. Places are often limited and we have people on the waiting list. For this reason, the ELS Academy has a strict no-show policy. In case you are prevented from attending the workshop, kindly send an email to contact@elsacademy.nl at least 48 hours before the workshop to make space for people on the waiting list.

If you do not attend the workshop without prior cancellation, your supervisor will be informed about your no-show and you will not be able to register for another ELS Academy event for the next two months. This is also very unfortunate for us, however, it can be prevented if we receive a simple cancellation via e-mail.

Thank you for understanding and see you there!