Lecture 21- One-on-One Interviews Flashcards
What are the three types of research interviews in psychology?
- Structured (e.g., diagnostic screening interviews, set questions fixed)
- Unstructured (just having a research topic in mind, really broad, bottom up)
- Semi-structured (interview schedule or topic guide, adapt as go)
What interview structure should you use when?
- Structured: ideal for quantitative research
- Unstructured: ideal for research development and pilot studies
- Semi-structured: ideal for focused qualitative research
What are some downfalls of structured interviews?
- Unlikely to enlighten the researcher as more set can’t explore much
- Also can’t put in words of the participants: gives set numbers on the behaviors not the reasoning behind these behaviors
- Conversations can’t be perfectly planned out: there is an element of variability and structured interviews in there most basic form fail to recognize this.
What is meant as a point under structured interviews that expansion allowed if pre -defined?
Branching, the way the questionnaire is set up means what questions you are asked next or even if you are asked any at all if dependent on your previous responses.
What are some strengths of semi-structured interviews? Also what questions are most associated with them?
- Very open around a topic and question order can vary according to how the participant is responding e.g. if already answered a question in their previous response then don’t ask it again (make them feel you weren’t answering!)
- Equally can insert new questions to explore areas didn’t think of previously, expansion on topic is encouraged!
- Participant and researcher are more like equals= participant is an expert in their own experience!
- Use open ended questions or probing following closed questions
What is the outcome of structured interviews?
Specific questions + numerical data= quantitive
information put in a database
What is the outcome of semi-structured interviews?
Open ended questions + verbal data= qualitative
This data is transcribed
What is a benefit of transcribing instead of having data in a data base?
Transcribing allows more accurate representation of human experience: in the person’s own words
What is the most common source of gaining qualitative data?
One-on-one interviews
What is the advantage of having a sample sample like in the one and one interview? How is this the opposite to the approach in quantative research?
- Small samples are better in qualitative data as you can focus on the individual more and the specific context they are in gaining an accurate picture and going in to a good level of detail.
- In quantative research bigger is always better because it easier to do the math and reach statistical significance: focus on create a universal psychological law so concerned with the averages and what is appropriate for everyone
What is discourse?
pattern of language about a concept. How an individual talks about a topic and how it differs from how others talk about it.
What is identity?
Notions of self drawn from the various discourses an individual has
Think of a closed question and then an open ended question related to masculinity (context not important)?
- Closed: do you feel trapped into needing to behave in a masculine way?
- Open: can you describe how you feel about being considered masculine?
Does a research question in qualatative research need to end with a question mark?
No, in fact in the homework exercise was asked to start with “the research question is…”
How did Visser and Smith analyze data from Rahul (one on one interview)?
- Make notes of transcripts during systematic re-readings
- Clustered potential themes that captured the initial notes and codes they made on the transcriptions
- Entirely focused on what could be learnt from Rahul (he is the expert in his own experience!)
- Went through and checked that the themes accurately represent Rahul’s world view
