Types of Interviews Flashcards
Define ‘interview’.
A one-to-one conversational questionnaire in which questions are asked by the interviewer and answered by the interviewee.
What 4 things does the type of interview used depend on?
1) The type data required
2) The topic being investigated
3) Sensitivity of topic
4) Skills of researcher
Define ‘structured interviews’.
A formal question and answer session that follows a set number of questions producing quantitative data.
Evaluate 2 points about the reliability of structured interviews.
P - High
E - Follows a standardised set of questions
E - Easy to replicate
P - High
E - Uses predetermined answers
E - Gains quantitative data that is easy to compare
Evaluate 2 points about the validity of structured interviews.
P - High
E - Uses predetermined answers providing quantitative data
E - Therefore objective in analysis of answers
P - Low
E - Lack of detail with mainly closed questions and predetermined answers and no time to expand on answers
E - May not be a true representation of the respondents views
Evaluate the representativeness of structured interviews.
P - High
E - Can gain a large sample quickly due to the standardised nature
E - Therefore its easy replication allows for more to be conducted sooner
Evaluate the practicality of structured interviews.
P - High
E - Less time is taken to ask questions and get answers
E - Quicker and easier to analyse
Evaluate 2 points about the ethics of structured interviews.
P - High
E - Ppts are asked to be interviewed
E - Informed consent gained
P - High
E - Less likely to cover sensitive topics due to not having room for expansion of answers
E - Therefore protection from harm maintained
Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?
Positivists due to the quantitative data gained and the high representativeness.
Define ‘unstructured interviews’.
A guided conversation that doesn’t follow a set number of questions and produces qualitative data.
Evaluate 2 points about the reliability of unstructured interviews.
P - Low
E - No set questions without predetermined answers
E - Harder to replicate and compare answers if ppts go off topic
P - Low
E - Produces provide qualitative data
E - This cannot be compared easily
Evaluate 2 points about the validity of unstructured interviews.
P - High
E - More detail due to qualitative data
E - Can gain more of an insight into the attitudes of respondents
P - Low
E - Qualitative data produced from no predetermined answers
E - Researcher bias in interpreting responses
Evaluate the representativeness of unstructured interviews.
P - Low
E - Longer to analyse answers
E - It takes more time to carry out leading to a smaller sample
Evaluate the practicality of unstructured interviews.
P - Low
E - Analysing qualitative data
E - More time taken and costs more
Evaluate the ethics of unstructured interviews.
P - Low
E - Covers sensitive issues
E - Can lead to psychological distress in ppts
Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?
Interpretivists due to the qualitative data gained and the high validity.
Define ‘semi-structured interviews’.
A question and answer session that follows a set number of questions with the freedom to push for further expansion.
Evaluate the reliability of semi-structured interviews.
P - High
E - Set list of questions
E - Easy to replicate
Evaluate 2 points about the validity of semi-structured interviews.
P - High
E - Interviewer can push for ppts to expand their answers
E - Allows for higher detail
P - Low
E - Provides qualitative data of opinions
E - Can have bias of interpretation
Evaluate the representativeness of semi-structured interviews.
P - High
E - There is still a high element of replication
E - Allows for larger sample
Evaluate the practicality of semi-structured interviews.
P - Low
E - There is freedom to expand on answers
E - Time consuming
Evaluate the ethics of semi-structured interviews.
P - Low
E - The interviewer has the freedom to ask the ppts to expand their answer
E - The probing of sensitive topics could cause psychological distress
Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?
Both due to both quantitative and qualitative data being produced.
Define ‘group interviews’.
A question and answer session that is carried out with a group of people in the same room at the same time discussing the questions and topics.
Evaluate 2 points about the reliability of group interviews.
P - High
E - All people and groups experience the same initial questions and topics
E - Therefore there is some element of standardisation to repeat
P - Low
E - Answers are not predetermined
E - Harder to compare answers
Evaluate 2 points about the validity of group interviews.
P - High
E - Gains mass amounts of qualitative data
E - Provides detail insight into a group of people’s opinions
P - Low
E - Ppts may experience social desirability
E - Leading to them answering differently due to the presence of other people
Evaluate the representativeness of group interviews.
P - Low
E - Researcher may find a sample suited to their researcher sharing the same topics
E - Open to researcher bias
Evaluate the practicality of group interviews.
P - Low
E - Researcher needs to find an ample amount of people to take part
E - Takes time
Evaluate the ethics of group interviews.
P - High
E - Ppts volunteer
E - Informed consent gained
Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?
Interpretivists due to the qualitative data gained.
What is the advantage of using an unstructured interview for sensitive subjects?
More likely to build a rapport between the respondent and the interviewer and so respondents will feel more comfortable discussing the sensitive subject.
How can interviewer bias affect an interview?
Certain characteristics of the interviewer can be received differently by different respondents, such as the greater difference in social class, the less likely the respondents are to be truthful.
How can social desirability affect an interview?
Respondents may answer questions in ways that make them look better in society and so may lie about behaviours that could be deemed as undesirable.
Define ‘active interviewing’.
An interview that follows a more aggressive approach to get respondents to open up more than they otherwise would.
Give an example of a structured interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.
ONS - The British Crime Survey that studies people’s experience of crime.
Give an example of a unstructured interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.
Gatrell (2004) - The Sociology of Parenthood that studies life after pregnancy and the work/child balance of commitments.
Give an example of a semi-structured interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.
Carolyn Jackson (2006) - Lads and Ladettes in School: Gender and the Fear of Failure studies boys subscribing to lad culture and work ethic impact.
Give an example of a group interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.
Christine Griffin et al (2008) - Social Drinking and Youth studies the marketing of alcohol to young people.
