Interviews Flashcards
how are they different from questionnaires?
they involve social interaction
the researchers need TRAINING in HOW to interview- costs $
What types of Qs are asked?
- closed: fixed set of responses
- open: allows people to verbally express their opinions
- both generate different types of data
interview schedule
set of prepared Qs designed to be asked exactly as worded
they have a standardised format: the SAME Q are asked to each respondent in the SAME ORDER
interviews are quite often?
- recorded
- data is then written up as a transcript which can be analysed @ a later date
whom should interviews take special care interviewing?
- vulnerable groups
- ex: kids- limited attention span so avoid lengthy interviews
the language used should be appropriate to?
the vocab of the target pop
so the researcher must CHANGE the language of the Qs to match the social background of respondents’ age, social class, etc
Interviews may NOT be the best method to use for?
researching sensitive topics- etc: truancy & discrimination
as people may feel MORE COMFORTABLE completing a questionnaire in private
what are the 3 types of interviews?
1) structured
2) unstructured
3) group
SIs are also known as?
formal interviews
the Qs in a SI are asked in a?
standardised order
& the interviewer will NOT deviate from the schedule or probe BEYOND the answers received
THUS= inflexible and based on closed Qs
Strengths of an SI?
- easy to REPLICATE as fixed set of closed Qs are used- which easy to QUANTIFY- means easier to test for reliability
- relatively QUICK to conduct- means many can be conducted within a short space of time- means LARGE SAMPLE can be obtained- representative findings- easy to GENERALISE
Limitations of an SI?
- Inflexible- means new Qs can’t be asked IMPROMPTU as a schedule MUST be followed
- answers LACK DETAIL as only closed Qs are asked which generates quantitative data- means we might not know WHY a person behaves that way
unstructured interviews (UIs) are aka?
discovery interviews
are more liked a guided convo than a strict SI- sometimes called informal interviews
Format of a UI
- interview schedules may NOT be used, and even if they are, they’ll contain OPEN ENDED Qs that can be asked in ANY order
- some Qs may be added/ missed as the interview progresses
Strengths of an UI
- more flexible as Qs can be ADAPTED depending on the answers- thus allows for deviation
- generates qualitative data through use of open Qs- allows the respondent to talk in some depth, choosing own words- helps researcher gain real sense of a person’s understanding of a situation
- have HIGHER VALIDITY because it gives interviewer a chance to PROBE for a deeper understanding, ask for clarification and allows him to STEER the direction of the interview
Limitations of an UI
- can be time-consuming to conduct and then analyse the qualitative data using methods such as THEMATIC ANALYSIS
- employing & training interviewers= expensive, not as cheap as questionnaires- certain skills needed from the interviewer (est rapport & knowing WHEN to probe)
What is a group interview?
when a dozen or so respondents are interviewed TOGETHER
aka a focus group
what is the role of the researcher in a GI?
- to ensure the group INTERACTS w/ each other and do NOT DRIFT off topic
- he must be highly skilled to conduct one- ex. knowing WHEN to probe and how to est rapport
Strengths of a GI
- they generate qualitative data through use of open Qs- allows them to talk in some depth- helps researcher develop a real sense of a person’s understanding of a situation
- have higher validity- some might feel more comfortable being with other- reflects real life setting of human interaction- i.e. it’s a more natural setting
Weaknesses of a GI
- researcher must ensure that all details are kept confidential & respect respondents’ privacy- hard to do in a GI- can’t guarantee the moral integrity of ALL involved
- LESS RELIABLE- use open Qs, may deviate from the schedule, makes it hard to repeat
- LACK VALIDITY- social desirability bias, some may conform to peer pressure & give false answers
What is the interviewer effect?
- because it’s a social interaction, the appearance/ behaviour of interviewer may INFLUENCE the answers- could BIAS the results and make them INVALID
example of the interviewer effect
if someone was investigating SEXISM amongst males, perhaps unwise to use a female interviewer- the participants may lie to impress her, thus creating an IE
how to DESIGN an interview
- choose which type to use: SI or UI
- decide WHO will be the interviewer- will DEPEND on the demographic of the respondents:
1) Gender & age- can have a big effect on As- especially on personal issues
2) personal characteristics- some are more personable than others- thus find it easier to est a rapport
3) Ethnicity- some have difficulty interviewing people from a different ethnicity
