Types of Interviews

Question 1

Define ‘interview’.

Answer 1

A one-to-one conversational questionnaire in which questions are asked by the interviewer and answered by the interviewee.

Question 2

What 4 things does the type of interview used depend on?

Answer 2

1) The type data required
2) The topic being investigated
3) Sensitivity of topic
4) Skills of researcher

Question 3

Define ‘structured interviews’.

Answer 3

A formal question and answer session that follows a set number of questions producing quantitative data.

Question 4

Evaluate 2 points about the reliability of structured interviews.

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Evaluate 2 points about the validity of structured interviews.

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Evaluate the representativeness of structured interviews.

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Evaluate the practicality of structured interviews.

Answer 7

P - High
E - Less time is taken to ask questions and get answers
E - Quicker and easier to analyse

Question 8

Evaluate 2 points about the ethics of structured interviews.

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?

Answer 9

Positivists due to the quantitative data gained and the high representativeness.

Question 10

Define ‘unstructured interviews’.

Answer 10

A guided conversation that doesn’t follow a set number of questions and produces qualitative data.

Question 11

Evaluate 2 points about the reliability of unstructured interviews.

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Evaluate 2 points about the validity of unstructured interviews.

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Evaluate the representativeness of unstructured interviews.

Answer 13

P - Low
E - Longer to analyse answers
E - It takes more time to carry out leading to a smaller sample

Question 14

Evaluate the practicality of unstructured interviews.

Answer 14

P - Low
E - Analysing qualitative data
E - More time taken and costs more

Question 15

Evaluate the ethics of unstructured interviews.

Answer 15

P - Low
E - Covers sensitive issues
E - Can lead to psychological distress in ppts

Question 16

Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?

Answer 16

Interpretivists due to the qualitative data gained and the high validity.

Question 17

Define ‘semi-structured interviews’.

Answer 17

A question and answer session that follows a set number of questions with the freedom to push for further expansion.

Question 18

Evaluate the reliability of semi-structured interviews.

Answer 18

P - High
E - Set list of questions
E - Easy to replicate

Question 19

Evaluate 2 points about the validity of semi-structured interviews.

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Evaluate the representativeness of semi-structured interviews.

Answer 20

P - High
E - There is still a high element of replication
E - Allows for larger sample

Question 21

Evaluate the practicality of semi-structured interviews.

Answer 21

P - Low
E - There is freedom to expand on answers
E - Time consuming

Question 22

Evaluate the ethics of semi-structured interviews.

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?

Answer 23

Both due to both quantitative and qualitative data being produced.

Question 24

Define ‘group interviews’.

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Evaluate 2 points about the reliability of group interviews.

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Evaluate 2 points about the validity of group interviews.

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Evaluate the representativeness of group interviews.

Answer 27

P - Low
E - Researcher may find a sample suited to their researcher sharing the same topics
E - Open to researcher bias

Question 28

Evaluate the practicality of group interviews.

Answer 28

P - Low
E - Researcher needs to find an ample amount of people to take part
E - Takes time

Question 29

Evaluate the ethics of group interviews.

Answer 29

P - High
E - Ppts volunteer
E - Informed consent gained

Question 30

Who out of Positivists and Interpretivists would prefer structured interviews?

Answer 30

Interpretivists due to the qualitative data gained.

Question 31

What is the advantage of using an unstructured interview for sensitive subjects?

Answer 31

More likely to build a rapport between the respondent and the interviewer and so respondents will feel more comfortable discussing the sensitive subject.

Question 32

How can interviewer bias affect an interview?

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

How can social desirability affect an interview?

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

Define ‘active interviewing’.

Answer 34

An interview that follows a more aggressive approach to get respondents to open up more than they otherwise would.

Question 35

Give an example of a structured interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.

Answer 35

ONS - The British Crime Survey that studies people’s experience of crime.

Question 36

Give an example of a unstructured interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.

Answer 36

Gatrell (2004) - The Sociology of Parenthood that studies life after pregnancy and the work/child balance of commitments.

Question 37

Give an example of a semi-structured interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.

Answer 37

Carolyn Jackson (2006) - Lads and Ladettes in School: Gender and the Fear of Failure studies boys subscribing to lad culture and work ethic impact.

Question 38

Give an example of a group interview, its author, and its topic of investigation.

Answer 38

Christine Griffin et al (2008) - Social Drinking and Youth studies the marketing of alcohol to young people.