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Interviews - Coggle Diagram
Interviews
Ethics
The interviewer should state who they are, what the research is about and what they intend to do with the data
Participants should be told that they can end the interview at any time (important for sensitive subjects)
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At signs of stress and discomfort, the interviewer should ask if they wish to continue
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In focus groups, all members should be equally heard
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For online interviews, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in cyberspace
Focus groups
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Often members of the focus group have things in common eg. age, gender and experience
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Participants in a focus group discuss and debate, agree and disagree
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sensitive topics
Some researchers argue that focus groups are not suitable for sensitive topics as participants might find the discussion too personal or embarrassing
Focus groups have been successfully used to study sensitive topics such as homelessnes and sexual abuse of young women
Focus groups can provide social support and empowerment for vulnerable participants with shared experiences
Knowing that you are around people of a similar age with similar characteristics you may feel more comfortable because they are more likely to relate to what you are saying rather than an interviewer that is not similar to you.
An open discussion means that you will not be the only one talking and you can choose what to disclose
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Email interviews
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Although lacking spontaneity of face to face interviews, her research produced “rich and complex accounts of music experiences and memories”
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Advantages
Relaxed setting
Participants may feel more relaxed in their own home and without the interviewer being present, especially if they are shy
Considered answers
Participants can respond in their own time, consider their answers and not feel the need to reply instantly
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Heartfelt statements
At times email interviews can produce heartfelt confessions and deep emotional outpours which might not be expressed face to face
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Disadvantages
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Samples
Email interviews are unlikely to be based on a cross-section of the population being investigated as low income groups are less likely to have access to a computer.
Body language
Body language and facial expressions are not available in text based interviews and emotions can be more difficult to convey.
Structured
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The questions are usually designed to produce short answers which do not require development or explanation
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Disadvantages
Limited responses
Limitations are often placed on participants responses as in pre set yes/no answers and choosing between given alternatives
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Unstructured
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more informal, open-ended, flexible and free-flowing
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Advantages
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Validity and depth
If participants see the freedom of an unstructured interview as a means of expressing themselves in their own way they are more likely to open up and say what they really mean
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Sensitive topics
Respondents may be more likely to discuss sensitive or painful experiences if they feel that the interviewer is sympathetic and understanding
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Semi-structured
Each semi-structured interview usually has the same set of questions which are read out to the participant
semi structured interviews allow the interviewer to “probe”- to jog participants memories and ask them to develop, clarify and give examples
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The interview process
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Active approaches
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There is some evidence that more direct and aggressive interviewing techniques can produce more valid data
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Positivist POV
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Positivists see structured interviews as more reliable as every participant is asked the same questions
Interpritvist POV
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give participants freedom to express themselves- qualitative data produced is more likely to be valid