Interviews 🕵️

Question 1

What are the different types of interviews?

Answer 1

1. Structured
2. Semi-structured
3. Unstructured/ informal
4. Focus groups

Question 2

What are structured interviews?

Answer 2

They’re very similar to questionnaires and have a rigid format/set of questions that the interviewer must stick to.

All participants are asked the same questions, in the same style, for the same amount of time.

Question 3

What are semi-structured interviews?

Answer 3

Some set questions but the interviewer can prompt further discussion if needed.
— Cicoriel and Kitsue (1963): question such as “how do you mean?” are often used and beneficial for semi-structured interviews.

Question 4

What are unstructured interviews?

Answer 4

Can be seen as a lead / guided conversation. Although the interviewer may know the topic, there will not be set questions.

These interviews are very flexible.

Question 5

What are focus groups / group interviews?

Answer 5

This type of interview allows multiple participants answering a focus question.
— Usually the interviewer observes the group discussing a topic.
— The interviewer may intervene to guide the discussion and take notes of the participants responses.

Willis (1977): Focus groups were used to investigate laddish subculture.

Question 6

EVALUATION: Structured interviews

Answer 6

PRACTICAL:
+ cheap but costs more than questionnaires
+ straightforward
+ higher response rate

ETHICAL:
- Hawthrone Effect
- inflexibility
+ informed consent
- confidentiality may not be maintained

THEORETICAL:
+ reliability
+ validity
- patriarchal and distorted
- ignored subjectivity
+ quantitative

Question 7

EVALUATION: Semi-Structured interviews

Answer 7

PRACTICAL:
+ flexible
+ higher response rate
- time consuming

ETHICAL:
+ good rapport developed
+ informed consent
- confidentiality may not be maintained

THEORETICAL:
- reliability
+ validity

Question 8

EVALUATION: Unstructured interviews

Answer 8

PRACTICAL:
+ flexible
- time consuming

ETHICAL:
+ rapport
- sensitivity
- Hawthorne Effect

THEORETICAL:
+ valid
- subjective
+ representative
+ qualitative

Question 9

EVALUATION: Focus Groups

Answer 9

PRACTICAL:
- time consuming
- requires observation
- hard to collate

ETHICAL:
+ rapport amongst participants
+ informed consent
+ confidentiality

THEORETICAL:
- subjective
+ representative
+ qualitative