Researching Inequality Through Interviews

The use of quantitative methods in relation to positivist and objectivist bedrocks has been a key method to tackle inequality. Nevertheless, inequality has endured. The study of inequality has, therefore, gradually shifted to a qualitative approach where one should understand it from multiple dimensions through people’s construction in their specific environments. This approach has extended the ontology and epistemology of inequality, indicating that knowledge and facts regarding it are social constructions. The methodology that can serve constructionism and interpretivism is the qualitative approach. Inequality exists in Thailand as it does in other countries, but the differences lie in Thailand’s unique social structure, history, and cultural values. These elements have shaped inequality situations in Thailand in a distinctive way. This chapter, therefore, discusses situations of inequality in Thailand linked with a method considered to be an effective way to study inequality, which is the interview. The chapter also analyses merits and pitfalls of the interview when using it to research inequality in Thailand. Justifications of the interview method relate to theory and data collection. Based on Bourdieu’s theory of capital and habitus, the interview enables researchers to gain insight into personal information, values, and more, while respondents can build their rapport and also control the conversation. Despite the advantages of the interview, this chapter argues that when researching inequality, there are issues of power relations between the researcher and the informant, including topic sensitiveness and presumed judgement. Consequently, interpretative problems result because of the specific historical and cultural contexts of Thai society.