Qualitative Methods Flashcards
Unstructured Interview
Informal interview, not standardised, more like a conversation.
Unstructured Interview Pros & Cons
Can answer in detail and in own words, valid and verstehen, a rapport can be built meaning more detail but the participant may want to impress interviewer, impossible to repeat, interviewer has to be highly skilled and time consuming.
Observations (Covert, Overt, Participant, Non-Participant)
The researcher watches the group’s behaviour in their usual setting.
Covert Observations Pros & Cons
The group does not know they are being observed.
Sometimes it’s the only way to access certain deviant or sensitive groups, you will avoid the Hawthorne Effect (when people change their behaviour because they know they are being watched), but the BSA say it deceives people and should be a last resort, and small scale.
Overt Observations Pros & Cons
The researcher is open with the group with the fact that they are a researcher.
Can get closer to what is going on and so get a clearer picture (verstehen) and it is easier to record notes than with covert which makes the data more accurate (validity). But, Hawthorne Effect and less valid and if you’re non-participant you may not get a clear enough view of what is going on.
Participant Observation Pros & Cons
When a researcher becomes part of the group.
They are able to join the group fully and experience what they experience and you can access difficult, hard-to-reach groups such as young offenders. But, could result in bias as they’ll experience life through the group’s eyes, and there is a risk for the sociologist and ethical issues.
Non-Participant Observation Pros & Cons
The researcher does not join in with the group, simply watches from afar.
They are able to remain objective as their views will not become biased, and the data will be more accurate since the researcher is not participating and so not affecting the result and less dangerous. But, you won’t get the full experience so it’s less valid and more at risk of the Hawthorne Effect people may realise they are being watched.
Focus Groups
Can be seen as a development of the interviewer approach. Group of people will be encouraged to discuss an issue with researcher acting as moderator and helping to keep the discussion on topic.
Focus Groups Pros & Cons
Collects data quickly and cheaply, can generate a detailed discussion with richer data, more participants so more representative. But, one or two participants may dominate discussion, so much data is generated it may be difficult to analyse, and it subjective and unreliable.
