Using messy map interviews to describe and analyse elements pertinent to interviewees

Abstract

In this article, I introduce and evaluate the use of messy map interviews. Based on messy situational maps, messy map interviews is an interview tool I have developed to facilitate understanding of elements pertinent to interviewees. I present and evaluate how the tool contributes to interview studies that aim to describe and analyse elements pertinent to interviewees. This is done by use of an exemplar of working with messy map interviews, exploring parental decision-making about human papillomavirus vaccination. Based on the results, the study shows that messy map interviews can help keep qualitative research loyal to what interviewees ascribe relevance to. Furthermore, the tool can potentially help nuance the analysis of how elements are understood by interviewees. The article concludes that messy map interviews can be a useful mapping tool that keeps interviewees’ perspectives in focus in interview studies.