Interviews

Question 1

What is an interview

Answer 1

researchers asking face to face questions

Question 2

What are structured interviews

Answer 2

• involves identical close questions being read to pps, with the interview writing down answers
• easy to conduct
• quantitative data

Question 3

What are unstructured interviews

Answer 3

• involves an informal discussion on a particular topic
• interviewers can explore interesting answers by asking follow up questions
• interviewers need training/skills

Question 4

What are semi structured interviews

Answer 4

• combining structured and unstructured techniques

- quantitative and qualitative data

Question 5

Strengths of interviews

Answer 5

• complicated issues can be dealt with in face to face interviews by making pps feel relaxed
• easy misunderstandings- questions can be explained/changed
• can be replicated

Question 6

Weaknesses of interviews

Answer 6

• interviewer effects- interviewers may bias answers. Also demand characteristics
• interviewer training- skill required for unstructure interviews
• ethical issues- pps may not know the true purpose of an interview
• pp answers- interviews not suited to pps who have difficulty putting their feelings into word

Question 7

Decisions need to be made about who the most appropriate interviewer would be. What variables affect this

Answer 7

• gender and age- sex and age of interviewers affect pps answers when topics are of a sensitive sexual nature
• ethnicity- interviewers may have difficulty interviewing poeple from a different ethic group to themselves
• personal characteristics and adopted role- interviewers can adopt different rols within an interview e.g. setting, appearance