title: A practical guide to the e-mail interview.
abstract: The e-mail interview is a novel technique that has a number of advantages over traditional interviewing, but there are also some disadvantages. In this methodological article, the authors review the issues surrounding the use of the e-mail interview, providing a concrete example of its use, that of interviewing people with alopecia areata regarding psychological issues associated with the disorder. The authors show in the article that the e-mail interview is an effective interview technique but that users must take account of a number of sensitive issues, and there are a number of serious disadvantages that limit its use to specific areas. The e-mail interview cannot be used simply as a cheap alternative to face-to-face interviews in all circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McHale
mesh_terms: D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000523:psychology; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design; D035844:Researcher-Subject Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors