E-mail: a qualitative research medium for interviewing?

This paper explores the opportunities that developments in computer-mediated Communication (CMC) are making available for social science research. In particular, the use of electronic mail (e-mail) is proposed as a viable and valuable research medium for conducting qualitative interviews, alongside the traditional face-to-face interview. The practical, methodological and conceptual implications of e-mail interviewing are explored. In addition, important ethical dilemmas concerning informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, protection from harm, interpretation and ownership of material are discussed.