Unstructured Interviews Flashcards
What are some practical advantages of unstructured interviews?
give freedom to vary interview
rich, detailed, qualitative data
informality allows rapport to develop, putting interviewee at ease and encouraging them to open up - useful for sensitive topics
makes it easier to clarify questions and answers
flexible - no pre-set questions gives opportunity for interviewee to speak about things they think are important
What are some practical disadvantages of unstructured interviews?
training needs to be more thorough, the interviewer needs a background in sociology so they can recognise sociologically important points to record and can probe further appropriate questioning and good interpersonal skills to establish rapport
they take a long time which limits the number carried out and sample size so less reliable
large amounts of qualitative data hard to transcribe - no pre-coded answers make analysis and categorisation of data time consuming and difficult
What do positivists think about unstructured interviews?
That they are unreliable because they aren’t a standardised measuring instrument since each interview is unique and impossible to replicate, check and compare findings.
open ended questions mean they can’t be easily quantified so less useful for testing hypothesis.
smaller samples means less representative
interaction undermines validity - danger of distortion
qualitative data means sociologist has to make value judgments about the meaning of answers undermining validity
How does Becker respond to positivist criticism of unstructured interviews that interaction undermines validity?
He argues that not all depend on rapport and he has used playing dumb, aggression and disbelief to get teachers to reveal how they classified pupils
What do interpretivists think about unstructured interviews?
They allow involvement and rapport - so the interviewer is able to see through interviewees eyes - valid data
freedom for interviewees to raise issues important to them - bringing new insights into the research
probing can help interviewees to formulate thoughts
Who rejects the positivist idea that research involves beginning with a fixed hypothesis and believes it is more important to research with an open mind or unlikely to discover the truth. We should developed a grounded theory - building up and modifying hypotheses during the course of research. So unstructured interviews are good as they can research unfamiliar subjects - open-ended and open-minded
Glaser and Strauss
Who argues that there is a feminist approach to research that is value committed and take women’s side, aiming to voice their experiences and free them from oppression. it requires researchers involvement not detachment and aims for equality and collaboration between the two not hierarchy.
In her ….. interviews about becoming mothers what did she do?
She argued close relationships allowed here to get closer to women’s experiences
Oakley
178
She willingly answered questions about herself and even attended some the births, she treated the women as friends, helping them with housework and childcare.
How does Pawson criticise Oakley’s approach and how does she respond to it?
Argues there is nothing distinctively feminist about Oakley’s approach it is basically the same as interpretivism.
Oakley argues she goes beyond interpretivist approach by having involvement in subject’s lives outside interviews reflecting the value committed nature of feminist research
How does Pawson criticise Oakley’s approach and how does she respond to it?
Argues there is nothing distinctively feminist about Oakley’s approach it is basically the same as interpretivism.
Oakley argues she goes beyond interpretivist approach by having involvement in subject’s lives outside interviews reflecting the value committed nature of feminist research
Why might unstructured interviews be more appropriate then structured or questionnaires when studying convicted criminals?
Because on average they have lower literacy levels and interviews can clarify questions
To ensure validity there needs to be an accurate record of the interview. What is difficult about this, especially when studying crime?
Writing notes may put suspects, officers or offenders off as it may look like a report is being written about them and affect responses
few are comfortable with a digital recorder since if involved with crime/policing they may be worried that what is said can be used against them
recording may make interviewees suspicious of interviewers intentions
Who had to he aware of the risk of being taken hostage when interviewing female prisoners? For this reason it is safer interviewing in a prison or police context
Davies
Who was accompanied by off duty police officers when interviewing victims of domestic violence?
Hoyle
Explaining the access issues of interviewing people to do with crime
some groups involved in crime are in a hidden or protected environment. Victims of domestic violence hard to study since access to refugees can be difficult
Some groups to do with crime can be easily located, police and prisoners but it may be hard to find time and suitable place as unstructured takes a long time which can be hard to fit into prison timetables and for a venue it needs to be done in an nonthreatening area of the prison the need for anonymity and confidentiality may mean interviewing in prisons and work places unsuitable
Where did Davies carry out interviews when he became desperate for a venue?
Local cafe’
