What you need
Messaging tool
Asynchronous, or epistolary, intervews are one-to-one interviews, often via email or other digital mediums. As in a sequence of written letters, a relationship between the correspondents can be established and developed over time, which builds relationship and trust.
Advantages
- Allows time for reflection.
- Both interviewees and interviewer can considered responses in their own time and at their own speed.
- Includes participants (interviewees or researcher) who have various disabilities and/or long-term health conditions that prevent a telephone or face-to-face interview.
- Provides an immediate text-based record of the interview.
Steps
- Decide the length and format for the interview.
Asynchronous interviews can be carried out over days, weeks or months.
- Agree on the form of communication with the participants.
Different platforms will have different impacts on the interactions. For example, using a work communication platform vs email or Facebook Messenger will likely shape the type of responses.
- The goal should be conversation, not interrogation. Start with questions or topics that are less sensitive and allow the connection to deepen naturally.