Beyond the traditional interview: alternative methods for capturing complexity and dynamics in an increasingly digitally mediated and globally mobile world

Purpose The current article advances the view that global mobility is a complex, dynamic and increasingly digitally mediated phenomenon that cannot be fully captured through traditional static methodological lenses. This view reflects the temporal, relational and spatial shifts through which global mobility unfolds, alongside its increasingly technological context. These features necessitate a reconsideration of methodological approaches in the field. Design/methodology/approach We review methodological approaches and data collection practices in expatriate global mobility research and identify central limitations. From this point of departure, we engage in a methodological discussion, which serves as a basis for our proposal of alternative ways of conducting qualitative inquiry in this domain. Findings Traditional interviews remain the dominant method in qualitative expatriate research. However, this approach often limits the ability to examine the complex, dynamic and digitally mediated realities of global mobility. We argue for greater attention to less commonly used forms of qualitative data collection, drawing on methods that generate situated interactional data, informant-produced narratives and institutional and material traces. Originality/value This article outlines alternative approaches to qualitative inquiry and demonstrates how data collection can be broadened beyond single-encounter interviews. It contributes to the field by showing how new longitudinal designs and digitally enabled methods can better explore the multifaceted realities of global mobility, thereby opening new avenues for theory development.