Methodology: Interviews

Question 1

What is an interview?

Answer 1

A one-to-one conversational questionnaire in which questions are asked by the interviewer and answered by the interviewee.

Question 2

What is a key difference between and interview and a questionnaire?

Answer 2

A researcher must be trained in how to conduct interviews.

Question 3

What are the two types of questions that can arise in an interview?

Answer 3

1) Closed

2) Open

Question 4

Define ‘closed questions’.

Answer 4

A question that has a predetermined answer that produces quantitative data.

Question 5

Give an example of a closed question.

Answer 5

“What is 2x2?”

Question 6

Define ‘open questions’.

Answer 6

A question that has no set answer and is open to many responses that produces qualitative data.

Question 7

How is an interview recorded?

Answer 7

The researcher often films or records the interview so that a transcript can be written up at a later date to analyse what is said.

Question 8

Using an example, identify what might limit interviews as a research method.

Answer 8

Sensitive topics that may cause psychological distress for the interviewee, such as reliving an abusive childhood.

Question 9

List the 3 different types of interviews.

Answer 9

1) Structured
2) Semi-structured
3) Unstructured

Question 10

Define ‘structured interviews’.

Answer 10

A formal question and answer session that uses an interview schedule to follow a set number of questions, often using predetermined answers producing quantitative data.

Question 11

Evaluate a generalisability point of structured interviews.

Answer 11

P - High
E - Can gain a large sample quickly due to the standardised nature
E - Therefore its easy replication allows for more to be conducted sooner

Question 12

Evaluate a reliability point of structured interviews.

Answer 12

P - High
E - Follows a standardised set of questions that gain quantitative data
E - Easy to replicate and compare results

Question 13

Evaluate 2 validity points of structured interviews.

Answer 13

P - High
E - Closed questions produce objective quantitative data
E - Therefore it is not open to interpretation or bias
P - Low
E - Lack of detail with mainly closed questions and predetermined answers
E - May not be a true representation of the respondents views

Question 14

Evaluate 2 practicality points of structured interviews.

Answer 14

P - High
E - Less time is taken to ask questions and get answers
E - Quicker and easier to analyse
P - Low
E - Due to the set structure of questions they aren’t flexible
E - Therefore new questions cannot be asked to gain a deeper understanding of what the respondent said