Interview Research Flashcards

1
Q

What is the most widely used method of obtaining information from people in all fields?

A

Interview

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2
Q

What are limitations to the direct nature of the interview method?

A

Sometimes directness of questions can compromise truthful answers to sensitive topics although this can be alleviated through skilled interviewing

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3
Q

What are strengths of interview research?

A
  1. Yields a large amount of information
  2. Can be flexible and adapted to situations
  3. Can be used when no other methods is possible (e.g., young children).
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4
Q

What is the major shortcoming of interview research?

A

Time-consuming = 1-2 hours from one individual. If a more economical method can be used, use it.

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5
Q

What are potential impacts of interviewer characteristics?

A
  1. Can sometimes bias results
  2. Training interviewers is important
  3. Women have been shown to be better than men
  4. Married men are better than single women.
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6
Q

What considerations need to be taken with interview research (because information is coded and analyzed)?

A

Interviews are subject to same issues of reliability, validity and objectivity as other instruments since

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7
Q

What are the 3 main purposes of interview research?

A
  1. exploratory to identify variables and relationships
  2. main instrument – questions relate to variables being investigated
  3. supplement to other methods – follow-up, validate other methods, go deeper, understand reasons for responses
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8
Q

How does the concept of reliability apply to interview research?

A
  1. Interviewers may be inadequately trained.

2. Questions may be asked unambiguously

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9
Q

How does the concept of validity apply to interview research?

A
  1. Must aim to eliminate interviewer bias

2. Questions must be tested for unknown biases

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10
Q

What are characteristics of a structured (standardized) interview?

A

Carefully prepared schedules, interviewers rarely deviate

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11
Q

What are characteristics of an unstructured (unstandardized)

A

More flexible and open, no schedule used – depth interviews, useful for exploratory studies

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12
Q

More flexible and open, no schedule used – depth interviews, useful for exploratory studies

A
  1. face sheet (ID info)
  2. census-type (sociological info)
  3. problem info
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13
Q

What are fixed alternative schedule items?

A

Closed or poll questions (Yes, No, Maybe) –

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14
Q

What are strengths of closed-ended schedule items?

A
  1. Provides greater uniformity, but more superficiality and forced responses
  2. Can use probes after the question to elicit more information
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15
Q

What are open-ended schedule items?

A

Supply a frame of reference, but minimum restraint on answers

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16
Q

What are strengths of open-ended schedule items?

A
  1. Flexible, interviewer can clear up misunderstandings

2. Can suggest possibilities of relationships and hypotheses

17
Q

What are limitations of open-ended schedule items?

A

Can be difficult to get same info from all respondents

18
Q

What is a funnel in interview research?

A

Set of questions about an important topic – starts broad and then narrows

19
Q

What are criteria/guidelines of question writing?

A
  1. Question should be related to the research problem and objectives
  2. Appropriateness of question type – closed vs. open
  3. Clear and unambiguous
  4. Avoid leading questions
  5. Do not demand knowledge that the subject does not have
  6. Sensitive or delicate material may increase respondent resistance
  7. Avoid questions loaded for social desirability
20
Q

What are advantages of self-administered questionnaire (when closed questions)?

A
  1. Uniformity for analysis
  2. Anonymity may breed honesty
  3. Can be mailed (but mailing is generally a bad choice)
21
Q

What are advantages of self-administered questionnaire (when mailed)?

A
  1. Low rate of return
  2. Not uniform (no interviewer present to clear up inconsistencies)
  3. Closed-item weakness applies
22
Q

What is focus group/group interviewing?

A

Interviewing 2 or more people at the same time

23
Q

How many people should focus group/group interviewing include at once?

A

Size of group should be big enough to generate diverse views, but small enough to be manageable – 7-10 people so all can participate

24
Q

What should the moderator of a group interview do?

A

Keep everyone on-topic, but not solicit answers directly

25
Q

What are advantages of focus group/group interviewing?

A
  1. Low cost
  2. Quick
  3. Generates hypothesis for future research
  4. Client (manufacturer) can be active in the process
  5. Flexible
26
Q

What are disadvantages of focus group/group interviewing?

A
  1. Does not produce concrete information
  2. Unstandardized results
  3. A few individuals typically dominate conversation