interviews Flashcards
types of interviews:
structured - questionnaires read aloud by an interviewer - POSITIVISM - reliable - interviewer has control
unstructured - no set questions - just discuss a chosen topic - INTERPRETIVSM - highly valid - respondent has control - feminists favour this type as there’s no power relationships
advantages to structured interviews:
- easy to train interviewer
- collect lots of data
- higher response rate
- include a large sample
- researcher can explain questions in a limited way (prompts)
- collects straight forward, factual information
- includes people who cannot read or write
- highly reliable - standardised structure
- quanitive data
- easy to analyse
- POSITIVIST
disadvantages to structured interviewers:
- more expensive than a survey
- interviewer bias - answers change depending on interviewer/situation as its non anonymous (e.g. school vs doctors)
- no flexibility
- low validity
- feminists dislike this method as there’s a power over the respondent - viewed as patriarchal as there is a power relationship because one person is in power
unstructured interviews
- interpretivists / feminists prefer this method
- can be done with individuals or as a focus group ( could have influences by dominating personalities / sensitive topics effect honesty )
- produce qualitive data
- no questions juts a topic of discussion
- empowers the respondent as they can express their POV
- find out attitudes and opinions
- PAUL WILLIS used this method when studying ‘the lads’
rapport & sensitivity (UNSTRUCTURED)
- the interviewer can develop a rapport with the interviewees
- good for sensitive topics - relaxed atmosphere
understanding (UNSTRUCTURED)
unlike structured interviews, both the interviewer and the interviewee are able to check for understanding
flexibility (UNSTRUCTURED)
- no set questions so very flexible
- could add new dimension to the research
- able to adapt questions for understanding
- good for exploring unfamiliar topics
- dont have to know about the topic as the interviewee will tell you about the topic
problems with UNSTRUCTURED interviews
- long time to conduct - goo off on a tangent
- small sample - not representative
- interviewers have to be trained
- difficult to quantify data as there is lots of transcripts to get through
- hard to write everything down
ethical considerations of interviews
- must get consent
- not ask personal questions
- DBS check needed to interview children/vulnerable people
- privacy
- confidentiality
practice issues of interviewing in schools
- children reluctant to talk
- lack of understanding
- restricted language
- short attention span
- read body language
- reliability
- validity
- interviewers take time - disturb lessons
- parental permission needed
- interviewer is ‘teacher in disguise’ - power relationship
how to improve interviews with children:
- don’t interrupt children
- avoid leading questions
- don’t repeat questions - children want to please adults
- use focus groups with peers - safe environment
overview of the interviewing process
- avoid leading questions - leading to an answer ‘wouldn’t you agree?’
- interview bias - could be taken away by having similar interviewers to the interviewee
- interviewers facial expression and body language
- artificiality - interviewing isnt just a conversation - interviewer effect
- cultural differences between interviewer and interviewee - make sure the interviewer is multicultural so everyone feels comfortable and represented
- status and power differences
- social desirability effect - people often seek approval
- interviewers are often more comfortable natural when interviewer and interviewee are matched in terms of age, class and ethnic background
