5. Interviews

What is a structured interview?

The interviewer follows a fixed set of questions that are the same for all participants and each interview is conducted in the same way each time without deviation in any way

What is an unstructured interview?

Works like a conversation, no set questions, a topic is discussed and conversation is guided allowing the researcher to ask follow up questions or ask in any order

What is a semi-structured interview?

The mid-point between a structured and unstructured interview

What is a group interview?

It is an interview involving several people at once. Generally up to 12

What would be some practical pros and cons of investigating using structured interviews?

Pros - faster to conduct and generally easier to train interviewees

- data is faster to quantify

Cons - more costly than questionnaires

What would be some ethical pros and cons of investigating using structured interviews?

Pros - less invasive

Cons - lack of support by the researcher if needed - harm

- respondents may feel under pressure to answer since it is a social interaction

- sometimes some deception to understand more and extract more rich information

What would be some reliability pros and cons of investigating using structured interviews?

Pros - standardised questions so it is highly reliable

Cons - interviewer tone/body language may vary slightly

What would be some validity pros and cons of investigating using structured interviews?

Pros - useful for straightforward factual data

- stop interviewer bias

Cons - little depth /inflexible because follow up question's can't be asked to gain a deeper understanding and the interviewee can't go into more detail

- people might give socially desirable answers or fit to the Hawthorne effect if their answer isn't in one of the preset answers

What would be some representativeness pros and cons of investigating using structured interviews?

Pros - larger samples possible than unstructured

Cons - may be a response bias so those who have time or are happy to respond to the interview might not be the target sample or untypical of the population

What would be some theoretical pros and cons of investigating using structured interviews?

Favoured by positivists not interpretivists

What are feminist criticisms of structured interviews?

Graham argues questionnaires and structured interviews are patriarchal and give distorted pictures of women's experiences eg: the researcher is generally male and decides the line of question mirroring women's subordination in society

Also surveys may impose the researchers categories on women and make it more difficult for them to express their oppression

What would be some practical pros and cons of investigating using unstructured interviews?

Cons - time consuming, difficult and expensive to train interviewers

- language barriers

What would be some ethical pros and cons of investigating using unstructured interviews?

Pros - builds rapport and trust which is good for sensitive topics

- opportunities for the researcher to test understanding of consent etc

Cons - the researcher has to have special characteristics to be able to comfort the interviewee in sensitive situations

What would be some reliability cons of investigating using unstructured interviews?

Cons - very low because all interviews are unique so can't be compared or re done

What would be some validity pros and cons of investigating using unstructured interviews?

Pros - allows deeper insight and clarification between the interviewee and interviewer

Cons - risk of interviewer bias because they can choose any questions in any order

What would be some representative cons of investigating using unstructured interviews?

- smaller samples due to tome constraints and lengthy interviews

What would be some theoretical pros and cons of investigating using unstructured interviews?

Favoured by interpretivists

Give some examples of unstructured interviews?

Howard Becker did a study on 60 Chicago school teachers to understand labelling and how these labels affected teacher expectations and interactions

Give examples of semi-structured interviews?

James Nazroo's study was on ethnic minorities and he used semi structured interviews to understand the experiences and inequalities experienced. They were carried out in the given language

What are some examples of structured interviews?

Kinsey's study on sexual health which was categorised and extensive. She asked questions quickly to limit the chance of lies and did follow up interviews 18 months later to check answers

What are some examples of group interviews?

Willis's study on lads subcultures and schooling which created a safer peer environment which reduces status and power inequalities and allows for more honesty. However, peer pressure may influence answers