Interviews Flashcards
What are structured/formal interviews?
They are essentially a verbal questionnaire. The interviewer is given strict standards listed instructions on how to ask questions in precisely the same way,word for word, same order, tone of voice etc
What are unstructured/informal interviews?
They are like a guided conversation where the interviewer has complete freedom to vary the questions,wording and order etc.
What are semi-structured interviews?
In between the two each interview has the same set of questions in common, but the interviewer can probe for more detailed information
An example study of semi-structured interviews
CICOUREL and KITSUSE always followed up their questions with ‘How do you mean’ as a way of getting more information
What are group interviews? + example
Can be up to 12-15 people being interviewed. E.g WILLIS used these apart of his research into anti-school subcultures.
(GI) What are focus groups?
They are a form of group interviews on which the researcher asks a group to discuss certain topics and records their views
(SI’s) Practical issues
-Training interviewers is straightforward but it is more costly than questionaries
-Results are easily testable, therefore are suitable for hypothesis testing
(SI’s) Response rate
-SI’s have a high response rate as people find it difficult to turn down face-to-face request. (increases representativeness)
(SI’s) 3.Reliability
SI’s are viewed as reliable because they are standardised and control and can therefore be repeated.
(SI’s) 4.Validity (criticism)
-Critics of SI’s argue that like questionaries, the closed questions reduce validity of responses as the freedom of the interviewee is restricted.
(SI’s) 5.Inflexibility
-Like questionaries they suffer from inflexibility of having standardised questions and pre-determined questions (impacts validity)
(SI’s) 6.Feminist criticisms
-In SI’s, the researcher is dominant and in control of the interview. Feminists say that this mirrors women’s subordination in wider society
What type of interview does feminists and Interpretivists favour?
Favour unstructured interviews which enable the researcher to build a more equal and collaborative relationship based on trust, empathy and support.
(UI’s) (ADV) 1.Rapport and sensitivity
-The informality of UI’s allows the researcher to develop a rapport (where conversation reflects a relationship of trust and understanding) with the interviewee
Study of UI’s Rapport and sensitivity
DOBASH and DOBASH used them to study domestic violence. The empathy of the researcher will help interviewee to feel more comfortable discussing difficult issues