This article asks what applied linguistics can learn from related disciplines with regard to the collection, analysis and representation of qualitative interviews. It assesses the contributions of qualitative sociology, anthropology, discursive psychology and outlines four "discourse dilemmas" which might provide the basis for a more critical and reflective dimension to the use of qualitative interviews in applied linguistics. Summarizing important contributions that have already been made in applied linguistics, the article also highlights the contribution of the other articles in this special issue. Furthermore, the article also outlines a number of "parameters of sensitivity" that might help researchers develop a more reflective approach to the carrying out, analysing, and reporting on qualitative interviews.