Understanding challenging moments in research interviews: a critical reflexive account

A social practice orientation to qualitative interviews invites an exploration of interviews as an interactional process. This orientation is significant, as it calls attention to the continuous negotiation of meanings, identities, and power embedded in the interview process, dynamics that would otherwise remain undercurrents. In this article, we expand the discussion by illustrating how researcher reflexivity is a key tool in understanding the interactional dynamics in interviews. Drawing from a wider ethnographically informed study of Mandarin language assistants’ translanguaging and identity work, we zoom into an interview episode in which divergent views and understandings emerge between the first author and the focus participant (Yelena). Specifically, we employ an interactionally grounded discourse analysis to demonstrate how both parties jointly navigate tensions, giving insight into their ongoing negotiation of identity and power. These findings draw attention to the value of reflexive understanding in the real-world research endeavor, simultaneously providing opportunities for personal and academic growth. Ultimately, we make the case that reflexively examining moments of interview tension promote a more transparent and in-depth methodological approach.