Research Methods: Interviews Flashcards
What is an interview ?
A live encounter where the interviewer asks a set of questions to asses an interviewees thoughts and experiences
What is a structured interview ?
An interview where the questions are decided in advance they are predetermined
What is an unstructured interview ?
An interview that starts with some general aims and possible questions this lets interviewees answers guide subsequent questions. Free flowing interaction and interviewee asked to elaborate on their answers
What is a semi structured interview
An interview that combines some predetermined questions and some questions developed in response to answers given. Allows the interviewee to ask follow up questions when they feel appropriate
What is an interview schedule ?
A set of pre set questions for an interviewer to use d
What is interviewer bias
Bias that occurs as a result of the interviewer. This may be the way they respond to participants, topics they are more interested in. Affects result
What is a group interview
More then one participant at a time
What should the interview schedule be ?
Standardised to reduce the effect of responder bias
What kind of room should interviewer be in
Quiet room
What allows rapport to be established
Neutral questions to start with to make them comfortable
What should interviewees be reminded
Answers kept confidential
What will have negative impact on quality of information ?
If respondents are confused by questions
What three errors should be avoided
Overuse of jargon
Emotive language
Double barrelled questions
Double negatives
Reliability
Structured - reliable standardised interview schedule
Semi structured - mixed some questions follow interview schedule so reliable
Unstructured- no set interview schedule so not standardised
Interviewer bias
Structured- low following standardised interview scheudule so less likely to impact results themselves
Unstructured- high- interviewer not following standardised instructions and schudules
Semi structured- mixed-follows standardised instructions and Schedule but can ask follow up questions that increase their bias
Validity
Structured- will measure what it set out to measure but can’t get additional information
Semi structured-as valid as possible - all information required by questions and also follow up questions give info on anything important
Unstructured- may measure what it set out to measure interviewers prompt interview to get info needed
Data analysis
Structured- straightforward - only information that they are interested in
Easy to draw conclusion
Semi- straight forward for structured but unstructured difficult
Unstructured- complicated - sift through irrelevant info to find what they want difficult to draw conclusions
Social desirability bias
Structured - interviewees may lie. As interviews follow set of standardised questions harder to establish whether participants are lying
Semi and unstructured - interviewees may lie but an experienced researcher can establish a sufficient rapport which gains info to see if lying
