Group interviews

Question 1

What is a group interview?

Answer 1

A structured or unstructured interview with more than 1 interviewee

Question 2

KEY STUDY: Willis (1977)

Answer 2

“Learning to Labour”. Group interviews and non-participant observations with 12 working class ‘lads’ who created an anti-school subculture. Willis believed they were working class heroes who were going against capitalist ideas

Question 3

What are some practical strengths of group interviews?

Answer 3

• Less time consuming than other interviews as you can interview multiple people at once
• Subject matter; can be a useful way of generating initial ideas which can be followed up in later research

Question 4

What are some practical weaknesses of group interviews?

Answer 4

• Data can take a long time to analyse as the group interactions are more complex
• Large groups can be difficult to control and manage
• Researcher may struggle to keep the group focussed on the discussion topic

Question 5

What are some ethical strengths of group interviews?

Answer 5

• Informed consent is gained, as interviewees do not have to take part if they don’t want to
• Can be used to observe group dynamics and norms
• Suitable for use with pupils (methods in context) as it creates a safe peer environment which they are used to from school

Question 6

What are some ethical weaknesses of group interviews?

Answer 6

• Can be uncomfortable for some interviewees being in a group dynamic, especially for sensitive issues
• Interviewees may feel unable to withdraw from the interview or certain questions due to the group dynamics

Question 7

What are some theoretical strengths of group interviews?

Answer 7

• Interpretivists like them as they collect qualitative data, and you can build rapport/verstehen with participants
• Flexible as you do not have to stick to a script
• Participants may be more comfortable speaking around others, increasing validity
• Participants can stimulate each others’ thinking/give each other ideas, increasing validity
• Includes more people, increasing representativeness

Question 8

What are some theoretical weaknesses of group interviews?

Answer 8

• Positivists dislike them as they are impossible to repeat exactly (low reliability)
• Hawthorne effect; participants may change behaviour because of the researcher AND the other participants (peer pressure)
• Some participants may dominate the discussion, stopping others from talking (reducing validity)
• May not be representative as not all interviewees may contribute