Interviews

Question 1

Unstructured interviews

Answer 1

Guided conversation, freedom to vary questions, wording, order

Question 2

Structured interviews

Answer 2

Interviews are conducted in the same way every time, same order, tone

Question 3

Strengths of interviews - rate

Answer 3

High response rate - Young and Wilmott, of the 987 people they approached, only 54 refused

Question 4

Strengths of interviews - reliability

Answer 4

Another sociologist could repeat and get the same results, easy to standardize and control

Question 5

limitation of interviews - patriarchal

Answer 5

Graham - surveys treat women as isolated individuals, the researcher has control, decides line of questions to follow - reinforces women’s subordination

Question 6

limitation of interviews - inflexible

Answer 6

Little freedom to explain questions/clarify misunderstandings

Question 7

Context of education - access and response rate

Answer 7

• Obtain permission of headteacher
• Schools may be reluctant to allow sociologists to conduct interviews during lesson times - causes disruption
• May object to researchers chosen topic

Question 8

Context of education -