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Interviews - Research Methods - Coggle Diagram
Interviews - Research Methods
Structured / Formal interviews
PRACTICAL ISSUES
more costly than questionnaires
cover large numbers with limited resources
gather straightforward factual info
easily quantified results suitable for hypothesis testing
RESPONSE RATE
large numbers can be surveyed which increases the chance of obtaining a representative sample
make generalisations
quantitative data
RELIABILITY
easy for researcher to standardise and control them
easy to replicate and obtain same results
VALIDITY
close-ended and pre-coded questions limit answers to choose from
produces a false picture and invalid data
little freedom to explain questions and clarify misunderstandings
people lie or exaggerate
INFLEXIBILITY
the researcher has already decided what's important
lack validity as they do not reflect the interviewee's concerns and priorities
snapshot in time
CRITICISMS
FEMINIST
HILARY GRAHAM (1983)
researcher being in control mirrors women's subordination
methods treat women as isolated individuals instead of them in power relationships that oppress them
structured interviews are patriarchal and give a distorted view of women's life
INTERPREVISTS
structured interviews fail to reveal how the interviewee sees their situation
Interviews as a social interaction
INTERVIEWER BIAS
asking leading questions with certain tones of voice, facial expressions and body language can influence the interviewees answer
ARTIFICIALITY
under artificial conditions it is doubtful whether truthful answers are obtained
STATUS AND POWER INEQUALITY
inequalities between interviewee and interviewer affect honesty and willingness to answer = invalid data
gender differences in power shape the interview
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
undermine validity as misunderstandings due to different meanings of the same words
interviewers cannot tell if they're being lied to
JAMES NAZROO (1997)
carry out interview in interviewees language of choice
ETHICAL ISSUES
interviewee may feel pressured to answer questions
gain informed consent
SOCIAL DESIRABILITY EFFECT
ALFRED KINSEY (1953)
asked rapid questions giving interviewees little time to think and create lies/mislead and used follow up questions and interviews months later
people may lie/exaggerate to please the interviewer
Unstructured / Informal interviews
ADVANTAGES
RAPPORT AND SENSITIVITY
informality creates trust and understanding
puts interviewee at ease and encourages them to open up
empathy and encouragement allows interviewee to feel comfortable discussing personal/sensitive topics
INTERVIEWEE'S VIEW
no set questions gives the interviewee opportunity to speak about things they feel are important
more likely to produce valid data
CHECKING UNDERSTANDING
if the interviewee doesn't understand a question it can be explained
follow-up questions clarify interviewee's responses
FLEXIBILITY
not restricted to set questions and can explore whatever seems relevant
formulate new ideas and hypotheses
EXPLORE UNFAMILIAR TOPICS
if the subject of interview is unknown unstructured interviews are important as they're open-ended
DISADVANTAGES
PRACTICAL PROBLMES
limited time = smaller sample size
thorough training costs time and money
interpersonal skills are required to establish a rapport
REPRESENTATIVENESS
smaller numbers mean the sample interviewed will NOT be representative
RELIABILITY
not reliable as they are not standardised and cannot be replicated and obtain the same results
QUANTIFICATION
answers cannot be pre-coded as they are open-ended questions
difficult to count up and quantify numbers = cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships with qualitative data
VALIDITY
INTERVIEWER BIAS
CRITICISMS
POSITVISTS
unstructured = comparisons are difficult
can't compare as people express themselves differently
Group interviews
spark debate with more in-depth ideas
cause peer pressure
participants have can alternate views