Dear Jenny and list, I consider IM chat interviews to be "real" interviews. In *Online Interviews in Real Time (see * http://www.sagepub.com/booksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book233088)-- which focuses on synchronous interviews-- I discuss interview methods using four main types of online communication: text-based, videoconference, web conference multi-channel meeting space (such as Adobe Connect) and immersive virtual worlds (such as Second Life or games.) Text IM is often combined with these other forms. For example, many people prefer to use IM rather than voice when communicating in Second Life, and researchers may include text exchanges in interviews conducted in a videoconferencing space like Skype. Based on my research on these technologies for interview purposes, text-only interviews may work best when a semi-structured approach is used. It may be best to have at least some main questions prepared before the interview, so you can review them and decide: should this big question be divided into several smaller questions? The point being that you want to keep the exchange flowing, you want to keep the attention of the participant, and you don't want to create a situation where someone would need to type for 20 minutes to answer one question. Two cases in the book *Cases in Online Interview Research* (see http://www.sagepub.com/booksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book235442) use text-only IM interviews. Three cases use IM interviews in studies conducted in virtual worlds. In that book I also discuss the use of "near-synchronous" text exchanges, which can take the form of an ongoing text conversation with the participant. *Online Interviews in Real Time and **Cases in Online Interview Research *are available as e-books from Amazon or you can order from Sage. If you order from Sage directly, here is a coupon code for 30% off: N130726. If you have more specific questions, contact me off list. Happy interviewing! Janet *Janet Salmons Ph.D.* *Capella University School of Business and Vision2Lead, Inc. *Site- http://www.vision2lead.com Follow Twitter at #einterview Now available as Kindle e-books: Online Interviews in Real Time & Cases in Online Interview Research PO Box 943 Boulder, CO 80306-0943 jsalmons@vision2lead.com