Topic 5: interviews

• Types of interview

  Structured- strict questions, same each time, researchers told how to ask the questions, similar to questionnaires

  • Unstructured- like a guided conversation, complete freedom to vary the questions, their wording, asking follow-up questions or probing more deeply
  • Semi structured- in between unstructured and structured, interviewers have the same set of questions but interviewer can probe for more information e.g. follow-up questions and additional questions can be asked
  • Group interviews- up to a dozen people are interviewed together (Paul Willis used this with the ’lads’)
• Structured interviews

  Practical issues- Training interviewees are straightforward and inexpensive but cost more than questionnaires, surveys that use structured interviews cover large numbers of people, they are quick and cheap, suitable for gathering straightforward factual information, results are easily quantified so can be used for hypothesis testing

  • Response rate- large numbers can be surveyed so higher chance of getting a representative sample, response rate can be increased if interviewer gives callbacks to those who failed to respond but this increases the cost
• Structured interviews

  Reliability- seen as reliable as it’s easy for the research to standardise and control them insuring each interview is conducted in the same way each time. Any other research are following the same interview procedures should get the same results.

  • Validity- critics of structured interviews argue, like questionnaires, they often produce a false picture of the subject. They’re trying to study as close ended questions are used, there’s little freedom to clarify or explain questions and people may lie which produces false data.
• structured interviews

  Inflexibility- questions drawn in advance meaning it’s already decided what’s important, this could result in a lack of validity as it doesn’t reflect the participants concerns and priorities. Structured interviews like questionnaires are also a snapshot taken in one moment of time.
• Structured interviews

  Feminist criticisms- Graham argue survey methods such as questionnaires and structured interviews are patriarchal and distorted, invalid picture of women’s experiences as she argues:

  • the research and not the female interviewee is in control of the interview which mirrors women subordination in wider society
  • Survey methods treat women as isolated individuals rather than seeing them in the context of the power relationships that oppress them
  • Surveys impose the research as characteristics on making it difficult for them to express their oppression
• Structured interview interviews

  Feminist criticisms- similar to those put forward by interpretivist sociologist, who argues structured interviews failed to reveal how the interviewee sees the situation

  • Graham argues sociologist need to use methods that allow the researcher to understand women’s behaviour, attitudes and meaning so advocates the use of direct observation
• Instructed interviews- advantages

  Rapport and sensitivity- informality allows the interviewer to develop rapport (relationship of trust and understanding) meaning participant is more likely to be honest. So are useful when researching sensitive topics e.g dobash and dobash use them to study domestic violence

  • The interviewees view- no set of questions so participant can speak about what they think is important. Due to greater freedom, it’s more likely to produce fresh data.
  • Checking understanding- easy to check each other’s meetings if they don’t understand a question or an answer
• Unstructured interviews- advantages

  Flexibility- highly flexible, not restricted to a set of questions, can formulate new hypothesis and new ideas and put them to the test in the interview

  • Exploring unfamiliar topics- as unstructured interviews are open-ended and exploratory we can start by knowing nothing and, by asking questions, learn as we go along
• Unstructured interviews- disadvantages

  Practical problems-

  • time and sample size, takes a long time to conduct which limits the number that can be carried out meaning sample has to be small
  • Training, needs to be more thorough and the research and needs to have a background in sociology which adds to the cost of conducting unstructured interviews
  • interpersonal skills- interview and needs to have good interpersonal skills so they can establish report which is essential if interviewees are to answer fully and honestly
• Unstructured interviews- disadvantages

  Representativeness- Small numbers so less likely to be representative meaning it’s harder to make valid generalisations based on findings

  • Reliability- unreliable as they aren’t standard as different questions can be asked every time making it virtually impossible to replicate the interview
  • Quantification- due to the fact they are mainly open ended it makes it difficult to quantify the numbers of participants giving this or that answer. So less useful in establishing cause and affect relationships that positivists prefer
• Unstructured interviews- disadvantages

  Validity- generally seen as valid but critics argue that due to their being an interaction between interviewer and participant this can distort information being obtained
• The interview as a social interaction

  Interviewer bias- the interviewer may ask leading questions which tells the participant how to answer, interviewer may consciously or unconsciously influence the answer by their facial expression, body language or tone of voice

  • Artificiality- even in unstructured interviews both parties know it’s an interview which can cause people to doubt if answers are truthful
• The interview as a social interaction

  Status and power inequalities- inequalities between the interviewer and participant may affect the participants honesty all willingness to answer, which could produce less valid data. Rich found when adults interviewed children the child need to place the interview will affect their answers. Gender and ethnic differences can affect honesty.

  • Cultural differences- may undermine validity, could be misunderstandings due to different meanings given for the same word. Cultural gap means interviewers can’t tell when they’re being lied to.
• The interview as a social interaction

  The social desirability effect- in social interactions people often seek to win approval. Participants may give answers that present themselves in a good light, they may also lie as not admit they don’t understand the question

  • Ethical issues- relatively, participant may feel under pressure to answer questions. Researcher must gain informed consent. Interviews on sensitive topics may cause psychological harm.
• The interview as a social interaction- improving the validity of interviews


  Some research as use techniques to improve the chances of obtaining valid data eg to reduce the chances of interviewers making up answers or telling lies Kinsey’s interviews on sexual behaviour asked questions rapidly giving interview as little time to think

  • Becker In his study of 60 Chicago school teachers used aggression, disbelief and playing down as ways of extracting sensitive information from them that they might not have otherwise revealed about classified people in terms of social class