MICHAEL DEMPSEY - Cranfield University

to achieve some element of gender balance – not for theoretical
reasons in connection with this project but in the hope that this would
broaden the perspective and possibly set the scene for some future
gender based further research.
The identity of the interviewees from each union, and the
circumstances in which they were chosen, are set out in the case study
chapters and, where quotations are set out, the identity of the
interviewee is indicted only by a code number, unless the nature of the
quotation is such as to require identity to be given.
3.5. INTERVIEWS
Fieldwork began after having undertaken literature reviews. This was
not only something which is suggested by realist method (cf Strauss
and Corbin 1990) but by the Cranfield process which requires a
literature review to be undertaken for First Review and updated for
Second Review. In this case, literature on trade union governance was
also undertaken after Second Review, as suggested at that meeting,
by which time some interviews had been undertaken at PCS.
When appointments were made for interviews, it was indicated that
they would take an hour to an hour and a quarter. Where an
interviewee was in full flight, I sometimes let it run on but in all cases I
informed the interviewee when the allotted time had expired and
indicated that the interview could end then, whether I had finished or
not. No interviews were unfinished, in terms of the plan devised for
them individually, but some covered less substance than others. Nick
Wright of UNISON could only spare 45 minutes and Alan Johnson, who
was interviewed in the cafeteria at the House of Commons, only 30
minutes. This changed with experience, but mostly only to re-order the
interviews as it became clear which structure worked best. Apart from
the two interviews mentioned above (the first of which was in a
committee room at UNISON headquarters), all but one interview took
place in the interviewee’s office. The one that did not took place, at the
interviewee’s insistence, in the Great Court of the British Museum. A
diary note was kept of all interviews, noting any contextual issues
which had arisen (for example if an interviewee had a heavy cold which
affected her/his response), highlighting issues of interest and also
noting any issues concerning the interview itself which required
attention in future interviews.
After the first interview, which was unsatisfactory both as an interview
and in terms of the amount of material garnered from the notes, all
interviews were taped. No interviewee refused to allow this. There were
no technical problems occurring as a result of taping save that, on
occasion (for example at the British Museum) extraneous noises made
transcription difficult. Transcription took place as soon as possible after
the interview. This was particularly useful as it was often the case that
things were picked up during transcription the importance of which had
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