group interview

Question 1

case study

Answer 1

paul willis

Question 2

paul wills

Answer 2

Willis used group interviews and non-participant observations to allow him to obtain a wealth of information in a relatively small amount of time.
Neo-Marxist approach – wanted to know what impact their WC background had on their educational progress but did this on a micro scale using qualitative methods.
The transcripts showed Willis had encouraged respondents to talk and largely prevented himself from talking.

Question 3

group interview practical advantage

Answer 3

· Less time consuming than other interviews. · Subject Matter – group interviews can be a useful way of generating initial ideas, this can then be followed up in later research.

Question 4

group interview practical disadvantage

Answer 4

Long time to analyse data - Data generated from group interactions are more complex and difficult to analyse, which can take a long time. · A large group may be more difficult to control and manage, especially if there are some loud characters. · The researcher may struggle to keep the group focussed on the discussion topic.

Question 5

group interview ethical advantage

Answer 5

· Informed consent is gained by attending the interview. · The researcher can combine questioning with the opportunity to observe group dynamics & norms. · This makes it suitable for use with pupils because it creates a safe peer environment, and they reproduce the small group settings that young people are familiar with in classroom work.

Question 6

group interview ethical disadvantage

Answer 6

Can be uncomfortable for interviewees, especially when discussing sensitive issues. Interviewees may not want to discuss these issues face to face, especially in front of others. · Interviewees may feel like they are unable to withdraw from the interview, or not answer a particular question due to the group dynamic. · Peer group pressure may lead some to feel unsafe in discussing sensitive topics and stop them from withdrawing from the interview.

Question 7

group interview ethical advantage

Answer 7

· Interpretivists favour as you can build a rapport which means you can gain verstehen. · Do not have to stick to a script during the interview, therefore interviewees and the interviewer can both ask for clarification of answers. · Flexibility to explore new areas - allows for more in-depth answers. · Qualitative data – detailed word-based data. · Participants may feel more comfortable being with others and are therefore more likely to open up, giving real in-depth data. · In a discussion, participants throw ideas around the group, stimulating each other’s thinking. This produces richer & more reflective data (validity).

Question 8

group interview ethical disadvantage

Answer 8

· Positivists dislike this method. · This can be due to the Hawthorne effect – where interviewees may change their behaviour due to the group dynamics & peer pressure. · Peer group pressure may lead to participants not saying what they really think. · One or two individuals may dominate the discussions, inhibiting others from contributing. · The data may not be representative as not all interviewees may contribute or may not contribute honestly.