Chuck Epp (University of Kansas)

Steven Boutcher (University of Massachusetts, Amherst), Prabha Kotiswaran (University of London), Jessica Owley (University at Buffalo),Mark C. Suchman (Brown University), Mateo Taussig-Rubbo (University at Buffalo)

Legal research has long reached beyond pure doctrinal analysis to explore the opinions and knowledge of nonlegal actors. Two common methods of obtaining such information are through the use of surveys and interviews. Surveys can be an efficient way to gather information from a large group of people over a short period. Additionally, using surveys to obtain information can provide a level of consistency. Surveys are a common research tool in the social science and have been used in legal research in many ways. Attorneys often use survey results as evidence to bolster claims such as trademark infringement, employment discrimination, and false advertising. Interviews represent a more time-consuming but potentially more fruitful method of obtaining information. The use of interviews affords greater control over the details of the interview and enables clarification and explanation of questions and ideas. Interviewing a subject in person also enables researchers to make additional observations about the interviewee. However, consistency and interviewer-influence represent challenges for this method. Panelists will discuss their use of interviews and/or surveys in conducting legal research. They will explain their method selection, make suggestions for successful use of these methods, describe incorporating research results into written products, and explore ways to improve methodologies.