Interviews

• Give 3 features of a structured interview


  • Respondents are given strict instructions on how to answer the questions
  • All questions must be asked in the same way and order
  • They produce quantitative data
• How did Young and Willmott use structured interviews in 1962?


  They used structured interviews to research extended family. Overall, they interviewed 933 people and each interview took around 10 minutes
• What are some advantages of structured interviews?


  High response rate, quick, data is easy to quantify, reliable and lessens interviewer bias
• What are some disadvantages of structured interviews?


  Restrictive, lacks validity, lacks detail, patriarchal, inflexible
• Give 3 features of an unstructured interview 


  • More informal, more like a guided conversation
  • Order can be varied, meaning follow up questions can be asked
  • Provide qualitative data
• How did William Lobov use unstructured interviews?


  He used unstructured interviews to study language used by black American children
• What are some advantages of unstructured interviews?


  High response rate, more detail can be given, more relaxed so can build a rapport with the respondent, can explore unfamiliar topics
• What are some disadvantages on unstructured interviews?


  No structure, interviewer bias, unrepresentative, subjective, time consuming, too personal
• Give 2 features of semi-structured interviews


  • Questions must be asked in the same order and way
  • Follow up questions are allowed
• What are some advantages of semi-structured interviews?


  High response rate, increases reliability and validity, keeps focus, balances objectivity and subjectivity, builds a rapport
• What are some disadvantages of semi-structured interviews?


  Difficult to compare and quantify 2 different types of data, still restricts responses, time consuming, not fully reliable, interviewer bias
• Give a feature of group interviews 


  • A group of people asked questions at the same time
• What are some advantages of group interviews?


  Group dynamic helps respondents to relax, can observe group interactions, lots of information quickly, more natural behaviour, respondents help each other
• What are some disadvantages of group interviews?


  Difficult to build a rapport, conformity to the group, need for social desirability, difficult to control, conflict, some respondents might blend into the background
• What are the two main types of interviews used by sociologists?

  Structured and unstructured interviews
• What is a semi-structured interview?

  It combines elements of structured and unstructured interviews
• What is the purpose of a structured interview?

  To deliver a pre-set questionnaire to interviewees
• Why do positivists prefer structured interviews?

  They provide measurable, objective social reality data
• How do structured interviews allow researchers to identify patterns?

  By using fixed lists of closed-ended questions
• What is a key advantage of structured interviews regarding reliability?

  They produce easily quantifiable data
• How do structured interviews enhance representativeness?

  By allowing larger samples to be interviewed quickly
• What is a disadvantage of structured interviews related to validity?

  They limit interviewees from raising new issues
• Why might fixed-response questions reduce validity?

  They force responses into predetermined categories
• What is the 'interviewer effect'?

  When the interviewer's presence affects responses
• How does the cost of structured interviews compare to mailed questionnaires?

  Structured interviews are more expensive to conduct
• What is a key disadvantage of structured interviews regarding sensitive issues?

  They may not build rapport needed for trust
• Why do interpretivists prefer unstructured interviews?

  They allow unrestricted responses and deeper meanings
• What type of data do unstructured interviews produce?

  Qualitative data
• How do unstructured interviews help with sensitive issues?

  They build trust and rapport between interviewer and interviewee
• What is a disadvantage of unstructured interviews regarding data interpretation?

  Researchers may distort interviewee's original meanings
• Why might unstructured interviews lack reliability?

  They do not use a fixed list of questions
• What is a potential issue with group interviews?

  Individuals may give conformist answers
• How can structured and unstructured interviews be used together?

  Through semi-structured interviews combining both methods
• What are the advantages of structured interviews?

  • High reliability due to fixed questions
  • Easier to quantify data
  • More representative results from larger samples
  • Cost-effective and quick to conduct
  • Limited interviewer effect
• What are the disadvantages of structured interviews?

  • Lack of validity due to fixed questions
  • Limited responses may exclude important issues
  • Difficulty in assessing truthfulness of responses
  • Not completely free from interviewer effect
• What are the advantages of unstructured interviews?

  • High validity with open-ended responses
  • Builds trust and rapport with interviewees
  • Flexibility to explore issues in depth
  • Allows interviewees to express their meanings
• What are the disadvantages of unstructured interviews?

  • Lack of reliability due to no fixed questions
  • Difficult to manage large amounts of data
  • Potential for irrelevant data collection
  • Higher costs due to training and time
  • Closer bond with the interviewer may alter the responses of the interviewee
  • Unsuitable for sensitive topics as the interviewee may prefer anonymity
  • Group interviews can lead to people conforming
• What is a benefit of structured interviews in education research?

  They take less time than unstructured interviews
• How does the hierarchical nature of schools affect response rates in structured interviews?

  It may increase the response rate
• Why are structured interviews considered reliable?

  They are easy to replicate