interviews

• What research method did Paul Willis employ in his study?

  Qualitative research methods including participant observation and unstructured group interviews
• Who were the participants in Paul Willis's study?

  12 working-class boys transitioning from school to work
• What was a key finding of Paul Willis's study?

  The boys formed a distinct counter-culture opposed to school
• What did the boys in Willis's study call the conformist boys?

  They called them 'ear'oles'
• Why did the boys find school boring and meaningless?

  They flouted its rules and values, such as smoking and drinking
• What are some potential topics for investigating social problems through interviews?

  • How the family socializes different genders
  • The attitude to the uniform at school
  • The issue of aggression in the media
  • Do girls prefer school life in comparison to boys?
• What type of interview could be used to investigate how families socialize different genders?

  Structured Interview
• What type of interview could be used to explore attitudes towards school uniforms?

  Semi-Structured Interview
• What type of interview could be used to discuss the issue of aggression in the media?

  Focus group
• What type of interview could be used to compare girls' and boys' preferences for school life?

  Unstructured Interview
• What is interviewer bias?

  The interviewer may influence the respondent to answer in a particular way
• How can interviewer bias impact research outcomes?

  • It can lead to skewed data
  • Respondents may feel pressured to conform
  • It can affect the authenticity of responses
• What was the impact of William Labov's presence on the children he interviewed?

  They appeared to be intimidated by him
• How did the presence of someone of a similar age and background affect the children's responses in Labov's study?

  They spoke more freely and elaborated on their responses
• What does Labov's study illustrate about interviewer bias?

  It shows that the interviewer's characteristics can influence responses