Research Methods in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management

Remote interviews using technology

We saw in the 

previous chapter

 how questionnaires can be sent out using

email or via social networking sites. It is also possible to conduct interviews

remotely using Skype technology or video-conferencing systems. This can

open up new opportunities for you as a researcher because you can now

conduct interviews in distant places without the need to physically go there,

which means you can do research in remote areas and keep the cost down.

This type of technology is particularly useful if you are conducting the

research amongst people in organisations or with individuals who have

access to Skype on their home computer. Conducting interviews remotely

needs special training because it is not as simple as being face to face with a

respondent and needs more patience.