On the Meanings and Uses of Laughter in Research Interviews

Abstract

The use of laughter is often overlooked when analysing qualitative research interviews. This article argues, however, that the analysis of laughter is valuable for two reasons. First, analysing laughter helps to describe relationships and interactions between interviewee and interviewer in a way that is sensitive to subtle changes and variations in interactive positions. Second, these relationships and interactions are also the contexts in which research data are created. A close analysis of these interactions thus helps in understanding how the data emerge. The results demonstrate the role of laughter in certain interactive patterns; for example impression management, problem revelation, coping with stress caused by the interview situation and negotiations of heterosexual tensions.The implications of these patterns for research interviews are discussed, as well as certain aspects of woman-to-man interviewing in feminist research.