outline and assess the view that interviews provide the most useful method for sociological research into the data exclusion of Pakistani and bangladeshi women

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

An interview is a method of collecting data from a subject by asking questions in a face-to-face situation, in this context unstructured interviews, which are interviews in which there is no specific set of predetermined questions, although the interviewer usually has certain topics they wish to cover, are used along with focus groups.

Question 2

grover 1

Answer 2

Unstructured interviews have high validity because it gives the interviewer the opportunity to probe for a deeper understanding & allow the interviewee to steer the direction of the interview. It also means questions can be adapted and changed depending on the respondents’ answers.

Question 3

context 1

Answer 3

This means that in Dales study could not only find out if they faced social exclusion, but they could probe deeper to find out why.

Question 4

eval 1

Answer 4

However, since this is a sensitive Issue the methods could be quite interviewer bias meaning that questions are laced to influence respondents in such a way that it distorts the outcome of the interview. Meaning that Dales views may effect the interviewees answers on social exclusion. This makes the findings less Reliable Depth of qualitative information may be difficult to analyse.

Question 5

grover 2

Answer 5

The use of a small sample (82 pps) meant there was higher levels of in depth understanding from a small sample, this means validity can be increased as there is more time for Dale to go into depth with each participant. Also Obtaining ethical approval is easier in small studies compared with large studies as theres less people.

Question 6

context 2

Answer 6

This means that validity is high in Dales study as her use of only 82 participants means she has time to study deeper into social exclusion

Question 7

eval 2

Answer 7

However, although 82 pps is appropriate for the methodology, it’s still a small sample. This means its hard to generalise the findings to the wider population, furthermore the age range was only 22 and it was only in Oldham.

Question 8

grover 3

Answer 8

A disadvantage of using Focus Groups is that the responders answers can be impacted, firstly by feeling pressured into giving similar answers to the rest of the group and secondly from having there responses effected by the moderator’s skill in phrasing questions along with the setting.

Question 9

context 3

Answer 9

this means Dales participants answers on social exclusions could have been low in validity as the use of focus groups could have made them change their answers.

Question 10

eval 3

Answer 10

Also Group discussions can be difficult to steer and control, so time can be lost to irrelevant topics. This means that a lot of Dales information she gained wouldn’t be relevant to her study

Question 11

conclusion

Answer 11

An alternative method would be triangulation, Triangulation is the use of two or more research methods in a single piece of research to check the reliability and validity of research evidence, it can also offer new insights and ways at looking at. The methods _______ could use could be closed questionnaire’s surveys to give high validity by reducing social desirability, secondary data sources such as birth registry in order to gain participants from a more varied background in order to increase representativeness along with the methods already used