Noting the recent growing concern for the theoretical development of intercultural communication, this paper reviews various interpretive schools of thought that have used qualitative research methods in either intracultural or intercultural communication contexts. Following a brief discussion of the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, the first section of the paper delineates the underlying logic and aims of qualitative research in intercultural communication settings, while the second section reviews the interpretive schools that hold promise for intercultural qualitative inquiry. The third section discusses critical methodological issues of validity and reliability. The final section suggests further directions for qualitative research in cross-cultural and intercultural communication contexts. (Author/FL)