Topic 4 - Interviews

Question 1

Structured interviews

Answer 1

• Favoured by positivists
• Strict instructions with standardised questions
• Closed-ended questions are used

Question 2

Practical strengths of structured interviews

Answer 2

• Fairly quick and cheap
• Straightforward
• Easily quantified results

Question 3

Fairly quick and cheap (practical strength - structured interviews)

Answer 3

• Quick to do as there are no follow up questions so positively impacts the economy
• Can cover large numbers of people over a short period of time

Question 4

Straightforward (practical strength - structured interview)

Answer 4

• Training interviewers is straightforward and inexpensive as they simply need to read a set of questions

Question 5

Easily quantified results (practical strength - structured interviews)

Answer 5

• Results are early quantified because closed-ended questions are used with coded answers, meaning hypothesis can be tested

Question 6

Ethical strengths of structured interviews

Answer 6

• Informed consent
• Detachment

Question 7

Detachment (ethical strength - structured interviews)

Answer 7

• The structure of the interview allows for detachment from the interviewee which means they won’t be as impacted by ethical concerns such as becoming too close with the participant

Question 8

Informed consent (ethical strength - structured interviews)

Answer 8

• All participants consent to being interviewed

Question 9

Theoretical strengths of structured interviews

Answer 9

• Response rate
• Reliability

Question 10

Response rate (theoretical strength - structured interviews)

Answer 10

• Can collect data from a large number of respondents and researchers can then generalise
• Higher response rates than questionnaires because people find it harder to turn down a face-to-face request
  EVIDENCE
• YOUNG and WILLMOTT approached 987 people in their study and only 54 refused to be interviewed
• Increases representativeness

Question 11

Reliability (theoretical strength - structured interviews)

Answer 11

• Data collected is seen as reliable as all questions are asked in the same way so the answers can be compared and replicated if needed

Question 12

Practical weaknesses of structured interviews

Answer 12

• Inflexible
• More costly then a questionnaire

Question 13

Ethical weaknesses of structured interviews

Answer 13

• May feel they have to answer the question
• Unsuitable for discussing sensitive issues

Question 14

Theoretical weaknesses of structured interviews

Answer 14

• Response rate
• Validity

Question 15

Feminist criticisms of structured interviews

Answer 15

• GRAHAM aruges structured interviews are patriarchal and give a distorted view of womens expereinces
• Male is often in control of situation = ask questioins from his POV

Question 16

Unstructured interivews

Answer 16

• Guided conversation
• Open ended questions which could trigger discussion

Question 17

Practical advantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 17

• Flexibility
• Exploring unfarmiliar topics

Question 18

Ethical strengths of unstructured interviews

Answer 18

• Rapport and sensitivity

Question 19

DOBASH and DOBASH

Answer 19

• Used unstructured interviews to research domestic violence and built rapport = open up with thier personal issues

Question 20

Theoretical strengths of unstructured interviews

Answer 20

• The interviewees view
• Checking understanding
• Validity

Question 21

Practical weaknesses of unstructured interviews

Answer 21

• Time and cost
• Training
• Interpersonal skills

Question 22

Ethical weaknesses of unstructured interviews

Answer 22

• Harm
• Interpersonal relationships

Question 23

Theoretical weaknesses of unstructured interviews

Answer 23

• Reliability
• Quantification
• Representativeness

Question 24

Group interviews

Answer 24

• Researcher interviews several participants

Question 25

Foucs groups

Answer 25

- Group focuses on a specific topic to explore in depth and people are free to talk to one another, as well as the researcher

Question 26

Strengths of groups interviews/focus groups

Answer 26

- Feel more comfortable around peers so more likely to open up - Throw ideas around produces more valid data - A good way of getting initial insight - Combine questioning with the opportunity to observe group dynamics

Question 27

Weaknesses of group interviews/focus groups

Answer 27

- One or two individuals could dominate the discussion, preventing others from voicing their opinion - Much depends on the researchers ability to keep the group focussed - Peer group pressure to conform could affect validity - Data recorded may be difficult to analyse