Methods: Interviews Flashcards
Structured or Formal Interviews
Essentially a verbal questionnaire. The interviewer is given strict standardised instructions on how to ask questions in precisely the same way, word for word, in the same order, tone of voice, ect. for each participant.
Unstructured or Informal Interviews (discovery interviews)
Are like a guided conversation where the interviewer has complete freedom to vary the questions, their wording, order ect. from one interview to the next - pursuing whatever line of questioning seems appropriate and relevant, asking follow-up questions to probe in greater depth.
Group Interviews
Although most interviews are one-to-one, some are group interviews with up to 12-15 people being interviewed together. Focus groups are a form of group interview in which the researcher asks a group to discuss certain topics and records their views.
Willis (1977) - group interviews
Willis used group interviews as part of his research into anti-school subcultures.
What are Interviews?
Interviews represent something of a compromise between the more structured research methods such as questionnaires and the very unstructured in-depth methods such as participant observation. Although there are different types of interview based on the sociologists theoretical preferences - they are all based on social interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee.
Advantages of Structured Interviews:
Practical:
Training interviewers is straightforward. Surveys using SI can cover a large sample. Results are easily quantified as questions are usually closed and pre-coded. Therefore, suitable for hypothesis testing.
Disadvantages of Structured Interviews:
Practical
Training is more costly than for questionnaires. Cannot cover a sample as large as questionnaires can.
Advantages of Structured Interviews:
Response Rate
SIs usually have a high response rate as people find it hard to turn down a face to face request. This increases chances of a representative sample and therefore provides a basis for making generalisations.
Disadvantages of Structured Interviews:
Response Rate
Those who participate may be atypical. This would produce unrepresentative data and undermine the validity of the generalisations made.
Advantages of Structured Interviews:
Reliability
Viewed as reliable because they are standardised and controlled and can therefore be repeated. Another researcher following the same interview procedure should get the same results. Answers can easily be compared and similarities and differences identified.
Disadvantages of Structured Interviews:
Validity
Critics of SI argue that, like questionnaires, the closed questions reduce the validity of the responses is restricted. They may not be provided with a relevant pre-coded answer and there is little scope to clarify misunderstandings. Because an interview is a social interaction, there is always the risk that the presence of a researcher will impact on the answers.
Disadvantages of Structured Interviews:
Inflexibility
Suffer from inflexibility of having standardised questions and predetermined responses. Means that new areas of interest or lines of questioning cannot be explored.
Disadvantages of Structured Interviews:
Feminist Criticisms
In SI, the researcher is dominant and in control of the interview. Feminists argue that this mirrors women’s subordination in wider society, particularly in female interviewee feels intimidated by the research experience. Feminists favour unstructured interviews which enable the researcher to build a more equal and collaborative relationship based on trust, empathy, and support.
Advantages of Unstructured Interviews:
Rapport and Senitivity
The informality of unstructured interviews allows the researcher to develop a rapport with the interviewee. This will put the interviewee at ease and encourage them to open up. Unstructured interviews are useful for studying sensitive issues because the empathy and encouragement of the interviewer can help the participant feel more comfortable.
Rapport
Where a conversation represents a relationship of trust and understanding with the interviewee.
How did Dobash and Dobash use Unstructured Interviews?
Dobash and Dobash used unstructured Interviews to study domestic violence.
Advantages of Unstructured Interviews:
The interviewee’s view
Unlike SI, UI provide great freedom and scope for the interviewee to speak about things they think are relevant to research in their own terms. As a result they are more likely to produce fresh insights and valid data. The researcher’s probing can help formulate and develop interviewees’ thoughts more clearly.