Footing and neutrality

Question 1

Define political neutrality

Answer 1

interviewers should represent the public, but there is the risk of bias

Question 2

Define footing

Answer 2

the stance you take towards what you are saying

Question 3

Define the 3 roles within footing (Goffman, 1981)

Answer 3

Animator =
(actor playing Macbeth) – convey the message of the principle character

Author =(Shakespeare) – the person behind the message

Principle =
(Macbeth) - the person who commits to and believes what is said

Question 4

Explain the difference between old and new interview styles

Answer 4

Old: K- lower, deferent, turn-taking adhered to, broader questions

New: K- higher, answers already known

Question 5

Define ‘explicit sanctioning of form’

Answer 5

When a polar interrogative is not given the desired answer. The questioner makes it explicitly clear that a ‘yes/no’ answer is required

Question 6

What does ‘agency’ mean?

Answer 6

action, “to do something” – expressing and claiming your position in an interaction. Claiming first position.

e.g. “it is, yes” – instead of “yes, it is

Question 7

define ‘reformulating the question’

Answer 7

Shown in evasive behavior, refomulate the question offered and then answer that one

Question 8

Define ‘affective neutrality’

Answer 8

The expert has to retain a neutrality of emotion “affect”

The institutional requirement that authority figures or experts must retain and upkeep this neutrality of emotion

Question 9

Define ‘negative interrogative’

Answer 9

Negative questions are very easily vulnerable to be heard as opinionated

Neutrality of the Interviewer is a crucial aspect to be made aware of – interviews can break down due to this being misconstrued

Second position repetition – pushes back on the presupposition of the interviewer