Conducting Interview Projects in the US Congress
Analyzing the Methods of Experts in the Field
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6300948 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Daniel Steiman (0000-0003-4565-0122, Department of Government American University), Elizabeth Suhay (0000-0003-1976-8573, Department of Government American University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 699-730 |
| Publication date | 2023-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Legislative Studies Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0362-9805 • E-ISSN: 1939-9162 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/lsq.12436 |
| OpenAlex | W4387259978 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 28 |
The field of political science is seeing renewed interest in studying the US Congress via one‐on‐one interviews. Yet, the qualitative research methods literature on this topic has lagged behind, with few recent treatments available. The result is uncertainty regarding how best to access and interview Congress. In this study, we implement a novel study design, interviewing over 20 authors—who collectively represent nearly all Congressional qualitative interview studies from the past several decades—about their research practices. Whereas the existing literature focuses on lessons learned from one or two authors’ research experiences, this approach allows us to synthesize a wide range of researchers’ practices and perspectives, identifying areas of consensus and dispute and ultimately providing comprehensive advice to qualitative researchers. As interviewing Congress becomes increasingly difficult amidst growing political polarization and distrust of academics, this methodological advice comes at an opportune time for researchers studying the US Congress and beyond
Distrust · Field (mathematics · Interview · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Policy Transfer and Learning · Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research
Congressmen's Voting Decisions
The Oxford Handbook of the American Congress
Elite and specialized interviewing.
Interpretive Research Design
Insecure Majorities
Interview Research in Political Science
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Following Fenno
Encountering Your IRB 2.0
How Talking Became Human Subjects Research
Notes on Interviewing Members of the House of Representatives
What Is Regular Order Worth? Partisan Lawmaking and Congressional Processes
Survey Interviewing Among Members of Congress
Elite Interviewing
Conducting the Heavenly Chorus
Ethical Dilemmas in Personal Interviewing
Partisan Competition and the Decline in Legislative Capacity among Congressional Offices
Qualitative Methods
Interviewing Political Elites
If Congress Is So Dysfunctional, Why Is Its Staff So Busy? A Congressional Fellow’s Perspective
Process Tracing and Elite Interviewing
Positionality, Power, and Positions of Power
Conducting and Coding Elite Interviews
Validity and Reliability Issues In Elite Interviewing
Interviewing an Ultra-Elite
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 4 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |