Interveiws

Question 1

What are types of interviews

Answer 1

Structured
Unstructured
Semi structured
Group

Question 2

What is a structured interview

Answer 2

Interviewer is given strict instructions on how to answer questions and conducted the same way each time.

Question 3

What is an unstructured interview

Answer 3

They have guided conversations with the interviewer asking complete freedom to the questions, asking follow up questions and probing deeper.

Question 4

What is a semi structured interview

Answer 4

Interview has the same set of questions but the interviewer can probe for more information. Cicoutel and kitsuse always follow questions with “how do you mean”

Question 5

What is a group interview

Answer 5

Up to a dozen people being interviewed together, Paul Willis used group interviews as part of his research into “lads”. Also known as focus groups.

Question 6

Practical issues of structured interviews.

Answer 6

Training interviewers are inexpensive and straightforward. They’re quick and cheap however, they cannot match huge numbers like surveys they are suitable for gathering data. Easily quantified as they are close ended questions

Question 7

Response rate with structured interviews

Answer 7

They have a higher response rate because it is harder for people to turn down face-to-face requests. Rates can be increased if several callbacks were made to pursue those who failed to respond, but this increases cost.

Question 8

Wilmot and response rate of structured interviews

Answer 8

He offered 987 people to interview, but only 54 refused to be interviewed because people find it hard to turn down face-to-face requests

Question 9

Response rates and representative results

Answer 9

High response rates help to produce more representative results, therefore a better basis for making generalisations. However, this takes time.

Question 10

Reliability and structured interviews

Answer 10

Easy for researchers to control and they ensure that the interview is conducted the same way. If all things are done the same way we should get similar results. We can also compare their answers easily to identify similarities and differences.

Question 11

Validity and structured interviews

Answer 11

Limits the interviewee from answering questions freely, interviewer has little freedom to explain the questions, people may lie and there can be interaction issues between the interviewer and interviewee.

Question 12

Inflexibility and structured interviews

Answer 12

The researcher already decided what is important leading to a lack of validity, as it does not reflect the interviewees concerns and priorities. Merely based on snapshots rather than a full picture as the researcher can’t be flexible with questions.

Question 13

Feminist criticism to structure interviews

Answer 13

Reflects Women’s subordination in wider society, mistreats women as isolated individuals and surveys impose strict categories. Oppression in concealing the gender barrier.

Question 14

Unstructured interviews advantages

Answer 14

Known for gathering valid data and enables researchers to to gain a deeper understanding the interviewees world.

Question 15

Rapport and sensitivity of unstructured interviews

Answer 15

Allows the interviewee to put trust in the interviewer, enables them to be more open and put them at ease. Useful when researching sensitive topics as researcher can be empathetic and encouraging

Question 16

William Lobov and rapport and sensitivity of unstructured interviews

Answer 16

Used an informal technique to study black children language. He found them to be linguistically deprived but by adopting a relaxed informal style by sitting on the floor. The children were also allowed a friend present which brought different responses and the children opened up.

Question 17

The interviewee view In unstructured interviews

Answer 17

No set questions, so the interviewee has more opportunities to speak about things they think are important. They have greater freedom producing fresh insights and valid data. Probing can help formulate and develop the interviewees thoughts more clearly.

Question 18

Hartley and Peter and the interviewee view in unstructured interviews

Answer 18

Used unstructured tape recording interviews that lasted up to 90 minutes with 85 clients. This approach gives the interviewees the freedom to talk about issues they believe are important.

Question 19

Checking and understanding in unstructured interviews

Answer 19

Much easier way for the interviewer or interviewee to check each other’s meanings. If the interviewee doesn’t understand the question it can be explained, and if the interviewer doesn’t understand the answer it can be explained.

Question 20

Flexibility in unstructured interviews

Answer 20

Interview isn’t on a strict schedule and questions can be rephrased. Interviewer can formulate more questions and hypothesis throughout the interview.

Question 21

Exploring unfamiliar topics in unstructured interviews

Answer 21

Researcher needs to have knowledge and a hypothesis before they start. Questions are more open-ended and exploratory, unstructured interviews can be a starting point to develop initial ideas about a topic before using more structural methods

Question 22

Practical Disadvantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 22

Take a long time to conduct and limits the number that can be carried out. Samples can be small and the interviewer needs to be trained and have a background in sociology so they can recognise sociological important points.

Question 23

Representative disadvantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 23

Smaller samples so it will be harder to make generalisations based on the findings.

Question 24

Reliability disadvantages of unstructured interviews.

Answer 24

Not standardised so can’t be repeated accurately and be compared with other interviews.

Question 25

Validity disadvantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 25

They involve interaction between interviewee and interviewer which distort the information obtained as they are presented.

Question 26

The interview as a social reaction
Interviewer bias

Answer 26

Interview may ask questions where the wording tells the interviewee how to answer. Implying that the interview expects a specific answer, the interview may influence the answer by the facial expression or body language

Question 27

Interview as a social interaction
Artificiality

Answer 27

Even the most relaxed, interviews are still interviews and not normal conversations and both parties know it as an interview. It can be doubtful, whether truthful answers can be obtained.

Question 28

Ann Oakley and social interaction bias interviewer

Answer 28

Admitted that she found it difficult to remain detached and neutral when interviewing other women about the maternity and childbirth.

Question 29

The interview as a social interaction
Status and power inequalities

Answer 29

Inequalities between interviewer and interviewee may affect honesty, and willingness to answer leading to less valid data

Question 30

Josephine rich and social interaction of status and power inequalities in unstructured interviews

Answer 30

Adults interviewing children lead to the child wanting to please the interviewer affecting their answer.

Question 31

John Howard Griffin, in social interaction, status and power inequalities of unstructured interviews

Answer 31

Gender differences in power or ethnic inequalities between interviewer and interviewee may lead to interviewing very difficult. John abandoned interviews in favour of using participant, observation due to power and status inequalities.

Question 32

Interview as a social interactions
Cultural differences

Answer 32

Misunderstandings of meanings can be a cultural gap, and the interviewer cannot tell whether they’re being lied to or misunderstood.

Question 33

Margaret Meads, and social interactions of cultural differences

Answer 33

During her research in Samoa in the Western Pacific, she had been criticised on the grounds that she couldn’t speak English and was unable to spot that girls interviewed had deliberately misled her.

Question 34

Interviewer as a social interaction
The social desirability effect.

Answer 34

People often seek to win approval, and they may be on their best behaviour and give answers that present them in a favourable light as they don’t wish to be ignorant.

Question 35

Interview as a social interaction
Ethical issues

Answer 35

The interviewee may feel under pressure to answer questions, and the researcher should get the interviewees informed consent. They also have the right to not answer all questions.

Question 36

Improving validity of interviews
Alfred Kinsley

Answer 36

Did an interview on sexual behaviour and asked questions rapidly so the interviewee had little time to think. 18 months later he did the interview again with the same guy people to see if the answers were correct.

Question 37

Improving the validity of interviews
Howard Becker

Answer 37

During an interview with school teachers he Used aggression and disbelief and played dumb as a way of extraction sensitive information that they may not have otherwise revealed about pupils.

Question 38

Improving the validity of interviews
James nasru

Answer 38

Did a survey on Britains ethnic groups, it was carried out in the language of the interviewees choice as he wanted to overcome the cultural differences problem.

Question 39

Using interviews to investigate education
Practical issues

Answer 39

Linguistic and intellectual skills are less developed and may have a shorter attention span. Leads to incomplete answers effecting validity. Questions may be re worded effecting the sociological aspect of the interview.

Question 40

Janet and Mike in practical issues of using interviews in education

Answer 40

Young children tends to be more literal minded and often pay attention to unexpected details, meaning that then would be more training and informal communication made by the interviewer adding to costs.

Question 41

Reliability and validity of interviews in education

Answer 41

Less valid results in structured, questions can’t be explained. Different interviews would be likely to obtain different results and would reduce the reliability and compare ability of their findings.

Question 42

Bentley
Reliability and validity of interviews in education

Answer 42

Showed the children a joke, image of her fooling around with her daughter before the interview and maintained a relaxed atmosphere by Notting is smiling. However, this cannot be easily standardised.

Question 43

Access and response rate of interviews in education

Answer 43

Schools are hierarchal institutions which causes problems when seeking to interview teachers or peoples certain permission would need to be obtained for interviews to take place. Schools may be reluctant to conform.

Question 44

Fields 1987 interview response rate and access in education

Answer 44

Study of peoples experience of sex and health education had high refusal rate of 29%, because of parents withholding consent.

Question 45

The interviewer as a teacher disguised interviews in education

Answer 45

If interviewee has less power than interview, they may lie or exaggerate to conceal information. there are power and status inequalities between young people and adults and the children see adults as an authority figure.

Question 46

Bell and the interviewer as a teacher in disguise in education

Answer 46

People may see the interview as a teacher, which may affect validity in several ways as the pupil may want to seek the teachers approval by giving untrue but socially acceptable answers.

Question 47

Improving validity of interviews with pupils

Answer 47

Interviews may not produce valid data as they do not give a true picture of the young pupils attitudes and behaviour. However, the researchers can adapt strategies to improve validity.

Question 48

Sheila and Diane in improving validity with interviews with students

Answer 48

Argue that interviewers should use open, ended questions and not to interrupt children’s answers to tolerate long pauses and recognise that children are more suggestible and also avoid repeating questions

Question 49

Group interviews with students 

Answer 49

Students and young people often influence by peer pressure, which may reduce the validity in group interviews, where individuals may conform to pay expectations, rather than express what they truly think.

Question 50

Green and Hogan in group interviews with students

Answer 50

Argue that group interviews are particularly suitable with peoples because they create a safe pair environment and reproduce a small group setting that young people are familiar with reducing power imbalance.