STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

Question 1

Definition: Structured interviews

Positivists

Answer 1

verbal questionnaire; the interview is conducted in the same standardised way each time, asking each interviewee precisely the same questions (word for word, tone of voice)

Question 2

PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES

Answer 2

• straightforward and inexpensive to train interviewers
• suitable for gathering straightforward information (quantitative)
• results can be easily quantified (quicker)

Question 3

PRACTICAL DISADVANTAGES

Answer 3

• cannot gain as large of a response rate as questionnaires; time consuming (lots of pre-planning)

Question 4

THEORETICAL ADVANTAGES

Answer 4

• reliable source of quantitative data

- interview can be repeated over again; increasing validity

Question 5

THEORETICAL DISADVANTAGES

Answer 5

• inflexible: researcher has already decided what is important, restricting interviewee’s true feelings and opinions - may lack validity
• interviewers given little freedom to explain the question and clarify misunderstandings

Question 6

ETHICAL DIS/ADVANTAGES

Answer 6

• (adv.) easy to receive consent as person is present
• (disadv.) harder to gain consent from students/children
• not suitable for sensitive topics as questions cannot be changed