Most of the Transformational leadership study uses a quantitative method by doing a survey with an instrument that can be found. Is it possible to conduct it in a qualitative method, specifically an in-depth interview?
Yes definitely. If you think that the existing theory/instruments of TL donot capture the meanings associated to such leadership by people in a particular culture, then one may opt for a qualitative study to tap new insights.
I intend to conduct a study in the ASEAN country while most of the study adopted TL with the western's TL dimension definition. Conducting a qualitative study may get new insights.
The guidance/illustrations as per the following papers/example my further help:
Balyer, A. (2012) Transformational Leadership Behaviors of School Principals: A Qualitative Research Based on Teachers' Perceptions, International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 4, 3, pp. 581-591.
Bryman, A. (2004) Qualitative research on leadership: A critical but appreciative review, The leadership quarterly, 15, 6, pp. 729-769.
Bryman, A., Stephens, M. and à Campo, C. (1996) The importance of context: Qualitative research and the study of leadership, The Leadership Quarterly, 7, 3, pp. 353-370.
Liden, R. C. (2012) Leadership research in Asia: A brief assessment and suggestions for the future, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 29, 2, pp. 205-212.