http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte...
The Problem-Centered Interview
Andreas Witzel
Abstract: The problem-centered interview (PZI) is a theory-generating method that tries to neutralize the alleged contradiction between being directed by theory or being open-minded so that the interplay of inductive and deductive thinking contributes to increasing the user's knowledge. The appropriate communication strategies aim firstly at the representation of the subjective approach to the problem, secondly the stimulated narratives are enriched by dialogues employing imaginative and semi-structured prompts. Theoretical knowledge develops by using elastic concepts that are further developed during the analysis by employing empirical analysis and which will be refined by "testing" empirically grounded "hypotheses" with the data.

Marienthal glossary (Uni Hannover)
http://www.sozpsy.uni-hannover.de/Marienthal/...

@dannniii: the "problemzentrierte Interview" was invented/coined by Andreas Witzel, hence it's a pretty specific term (see #s 1&2).

...but after problem-centered interview gave me just 25.000 hits on google, i looked out for an alternative and found:

Interview, problemzentriertes (topical interview): (over 1million google hits)

"Form des qualitativen Interviews (A. Witzel 1985), in dem Elemente des leitfadenorientierten Interviews und des narrativen Interviews verbunden werden. Im p.n.I. sollen die Problemstellungen von den Befragten weitgehend selbst, erzählend, in den von ihnen gesehenen Zusammenhängen entwickelt werden. Durch Interviewereingriffe (Verständnisfragen, Strukturierungen, konfrontative Fragen u.a.) und die Orientierung an einer Check-Liste wird der 'narrative Fluß' des Verständnisses beim Interviewer (Herstellung von Zusammenhängen, Überprüfung von Deutungen u.a.) unterbrochen."

...from the source named in No. 3.

...Thats why i placed it up for discussion...I mean if there are other alternatives out there they should be exhausted, right?

@dannniii: absolutely! :-)