Interviews

Question 1

Types

Answer 1

• formal and structured closed questions
• informal and unstructured open questions
  Semi structured open and closed questions
• groups interviews

Question 2

Key issue

Answer 2

Interviewer effect- Influence of the interviewer on the interviewee’s answers
- age
- class
- tone
- sex

How to avoid:

1) use skilled interviewers and be non-directive
2) match social characteristics on interviewer and interviewee

Question 3

P advantages (unstructured)

Answer 3

• gather in-depth data
• study large amounts of poeple/areas/groups

Question 4

E advantages (unstructured)

Answer 4

Offers flexibility - no fixed set of questions so you can explore what is interesting/relevant at the time

Question 5

P Disadvantages (unstructured)

Answer 5

• cost, employing the interviewers
• possibility of being time consuming
• unable to collect statistical data

Question 6

E disadvantages (unstructured)

Answer 6

• ensure consent and anonymity

Question 7

T Disadvantages (unstructured)

Answer 7

• Not reliable, they can not be generalised

Question 8

Advantages (structured)

Answer 8

• easily quantifiable
• ability for statistical data
• higher response rate as the interviewer is present

Question 9

P disadvantages (structured)

Answer 9

• may be costly to train interviewers
• time consuming

Question 10

T Disadvantages (structured)

Answer 10

Reduced validity due to restricted answers

Question 11

Advantages (group)

Answer 11

• more open discussion
• able to observe interactions and body language
• participants can throw ideas around which stimulated thinking
• interview large amounts of people at one time

Question 12

Disadvantages (group)

Answer 12

• people may dominate the group
• possible disruption
• peer pressure (reduce validity)
• loss of focus
• interviewer effects

Question 13

Structured interview study

Answer 13

Farkas and beron 2001 -study verbal skills of parents and children

+ produced quantitative data
- may be biased as the researcher could impose their ideas

Question 14

Unstructured Interview study

Answer 14

Ruth lupton 2004 - investigated the relationships between poor neighbourhoods and underachieving schools

+build rapport = people opened up
-hard to compare responses

Question 15

Group interview study

Answer 15

Paul willis (1997) - why working class children tend to get working class jobs

+ observe body languange and interactions
+Acted naturally
-time consuming