Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Sociology research methods > Interviews > Flashcards

Interviews Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Name the 4 types of interviews

A

Structured
unstructured
semi-structured
group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define structured interviews

A

Structured interviews are a data collection method that involves a list of pre-determined questions that the interviewer reads out. They often produce quantitative data meaning that positivists prefer this research type.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are Practical advantages of structured interviews

A
  • Fairly quick and cheap as you just read from a set list of questions. Means you can get a larger sample making them more representative
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is an ethical advantage of structured interviews

A
  • Informed consent- all the participants will have agreed to take part in the interviews as they would have had to travel to get there.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a theoretical advantage of structured interviews

A
  • High response rate - Willmott and young (1962) approached 987 people and only 54 refused to be interviewed
  • Reliable
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a practical disadvantage of structured interviews

A

Inflexibility - the researcher cannot elaborate/ move away from the list of questions meaning they cannot find out reasons behind responses. Reduces validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is an ethical disadvantage of structured interviews

A

Protection from harm-
some questions might be a bit personal and so may cause psychological harm
interviewer cannot build a rapport with the participant so they may feel uncomfortable

Oakley (1982) - When researching motherhood, she found it difficult to remain detached when interviewing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a theoretical disadvantage of structured interviews

A
  • Validity - participants cannot elaborate on answers so there is little detail In the data
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define unstructured interviews

A

Unstructured interviews are a data collection method that involves no set questions. They are like a conversation and interviewer is free to ask follow up questions. Therefore they produce qualitative date meaning they are favoured by interpretivists

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a practical advantage of using unstructured interviews

A

Flexible - more opportunity to find out more detailed information about the topic of research and into unfamiliar topics. They allow the researcher to develop new ideas as they arise.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a ethical advantage of using unstructured interviews

A

Rapport and sensitivity - the interviewer is more able to build a rapport with interviewee meaning they will feel more comfortable when talking about sensitive topics. This encourages them to open up

Dobash and Dobash - used unstructured interviews to research domestic violence and found that when they built a rapport with the interviewee they felt more comfortable about opening up

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a theoretical advantage of using unstructured interviews

A

Valid - the researcher can find reasons behind all answers and get much greater detail when using other types of interviews. This gives them a deeper understanding of their research topic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a practical disadvantage of using unstructured interviews

A

Time consuming - people can often talk about things that aren’t relevant to the research and as follow up questions can be asked it can take several hours for 1 interview. This leads to a smaller sample size making it less representative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is an ethical disadvantage of using unstructured interviews

A

Psychological harm - the interviewer might take the rapport to meaning they can ask more personal questions which can cross the professional boundary and make the interviewee feel uncomfortable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a theoretical disadvantage of using unstructured interviews

A

reliability - all the questions will be different meaning it will not be able to be fully replicated. It will also make it hard to compare answers to see a trend to it cannot be compared to other results fully to see if there is consistency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Define a semi-structured interview

A

A data collection technique that involves some pre-determined questions but has opportunity to allow the interviewer to ask follow up questions to responses. This typically produces qualitative data meaning they are favoured by interpretivists.

17
Q

What is one practical advantage of semi-structured interviews

A

Flexibility - can expand on responses

Cicourel and Kitsuse used follow up questions like ‘what do you mean’

18
Q

what is one ethical advantage of semi-structured interviews

A

Informed consent - they have agreed to take part in the research and know what it is going to be about

19
Q

What is one theoretical advantage of semi-structured interviews

A

Valid- can expand on answers and get more detail

20
Q

what is one practical disadvantage of semi-structured interviews

A

Time consuming - more than structured as follow up questions are asked which takes up time. This leads to a smaller sample size and can reduce the representativeness of research

21
Q

What is one ethical disadvantage of semi-structured interviews

A

Psychological harm - follow up questions may get a little too personal between individuals

22
Q

What is one theoretical disadvantage of semi-structured interviews

A

Reliability - the follow up questions will be different for everyone so cannot be replicated accurately to check for consistency in results

23
Q

Define a group interview

A

A data collection method that requires for a group of people to be interviewed at the same time. This produces qualitative data meaning it is favoured by interpretivists.

24
Q

What is a practical advantage of group interviews

A

quick - many people interviewed at the same time so saves time. Can get a larger sample size making it more representative

Willis (1977) - used group interviews when doing his ‘lads’ study

25
Q

What is an ethical advantage of group interviews

A

Protection from harm- they are surrounded with people similar to them and so may feel more comfortable to open up

26
Q

What is a theoretical advantage of group interviews

A

valid- people are more likely to open up and give details when they feel comfortable and one persons response may trigger someone else to say something useful

  • Representative - can see the behaviour of the people in the study
27
Q

What is one practical disadvantage of group interviews

A

Trained interviewer - costs money, they need to be able to keep the group constantly focussed so they don’t end up going off topic. also need to ensure discussions aren’t dominated by 1 or 2 people and that everyone gets a say

28
Q

What is one ethical disadvantage of group interviews

A

confidentiality/ anonymity - all members of the group can see who is giving what answers to there is no privacy to answers

29
Q

What is one theoretical disadvantage of group interviews

A

Validity - As there’s a group of people, this may lead to the Hawthorne effect meaning the data is not accurate to reality which reduces the validity

Rich (1968) - When adults interviewed children they changed their answers to please the interviewer. This is because of status and power inequalities

30
Q

What are 6 problems of interviews as a social interaction?

A
  1. Interviewer bias- Leading questions - Oakley- hard to remain detached
  2. Artificiality - Hawthorne effect
  3. status and power inequalities - Rich (1968) - Children need to please adult interviewer
  4. cultural differences
  5. social desirability effect
  6. ethical issues
31
Q

What are some techniques that some researchers use to increase the validity of their interviews ?

A
  1. Ask fast paced questions- prevents interviewees from making up answers/ lying - Kinsey (1953) used this when interviewing on sexual behaviour
  2. Matching characteristics between interviewer and interviewee eg gender, age, ethnicity
  3. Playing ‘dumb’ to the interviewee - Becker (1971) used it to extract sensitive info from teachers about how they classified pupils in terms of class and ethnicity

Sociology research methods (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions