lecture 9 - interviews and focus groups

Question 1

interview

Answer 1

= interviewer asks (probing) questions to a respondents

• probing: more like a conversation, can go in different directions based on the responses
• more flexible than standardized reviews

different types:

1. face-to-face
2. phone
3. online

Question 2

3 forms of interviews

Answer 2

1. structured: standardized questions and data (and standard answer options) -> generalizable + similar to surveys
2. unstructured: open questions, initiates interaction/conversation -> detailed and specific information and understanding
3. semi-structured: ‘schedule’ of questions as starting point = enables comparison = good compromise

Question 3

interview guide

Answer 3

list of topics/themes to cover
(necessary) questions
(possible) follow-up questions

Question 4

synchronous/asynchronous interviews

Answer 4

• synchronous = real-time (e.g. face-to-face)
• asynchronous = not at the same time (e.g. via email or social media)
  *advantage = not everyone can be reached synchronously

Question 5

(interviewer + ethical considerations)

Answer 5

• don’t influence/guide interviewee (-> confirmation bias)
• don’t react or interrupt answers
• show interest, this encourages people to explain deeply
• take notes, and if possible, record

ethical considerations:

• informed consent
• protection of privacy - confidentiality (also effects ability to use direct quotes)

Question 6

interviews: recruitment

Answer 6

common =

• advertising: mass targeting
• direct recruitment: personal targeting (-> case selection like in comp. pol.)
• via ‘gatekeepers’: members of organizations that control access to members of the organization
• snowball sampling (hard-to-reach/vulnerable populations)

use of (financial) incentives can lead to selection bias

Question 7

common types of interviews in polsci

Answer 7

*both are (usually) semi-structured or unstructured/open

elite interviews = political actors

• recruitment is a challenge: have little time (solution: different contact channels, e.g. use retired politicians)
• good preparation is crucial

expert interviews = administrates, academics etc.
! are not expert surveys (standardized survey questionnaires)

• common tool to generate aggregate judgments (e.g. level of democracy, perception of corruption)
• data quality = reliable & valid
  OR reproduction of ‘common knowledge’/stereotypes?

Question 8

focus groups

Answer 8

= interview of a group of participants where responses emerge from social interaction

-> ability to capture social interaction and dynamics

• 6-10 people
• purposive selection, e.g. based on (similar or different) characteristics/attributes
• interviewer acts as a moderator/facilitator that encourages interaction among the participants
• usually semi-structured question format
• duration: 60-90 minutes

= gives also info how people interact with eachother

Question 9

analysis of interview data

Answer 9

recorded interviews/focus groups

1. generate transcripts
2. quantification (structured interviews) OR data reduction (qualitative analysis by systematically summarizing and interpreting responses)
3. statistical analysis OR coding (with open/semi-structured)