Qualitative Method, Research Building and Interviews: A Reflection from the Book 'A construção de uma identidade inacabada: Nipo-brasileiros no interior do Estado de São Paulo'

Abstract

This paper takes the sociological research The Construction of an Unfinished Identity, by the sociologist Marcelo Ennes, as a case study to analyze mainly two issues that concern the universe of qualitative social research: how the relation theory-method-field develops itself throughout the research; and how the interview process unfolds in a practical context. The sources of the article are Ennes’ book, other of his writings, and an interview with the author, as well as classical texts of sociology and anthropology. We conclude that regarding qualitative research, the relation theory-method-field develops in a complex way, in which each element informs and intervenes in the other.  And that there are certain methods and ethical principles involved in the interview process that support the attainment of the desired study results.