Research Methods: Interviews

Question 1

What is an interview ?

Answer 1

A live encounter where the interviewer asks a set of questions to asses an interviewees thoughts and experiences

Question 2

What is a structured interview ?

Answer 2

An interview where the questions are decided in advance they are predetermined

Question 3

What is an unstructured interview ?

Answer 3

An interview that starts with some general aims and possible questions this lets interviewees answers guide subsequent questions. Free flowing interaction and interviewee asked to elaborate on their answers

Question 4

What is a semi structured interview

Answer 4

An interview that combines some predetermined questions and some questions developed in response to answers given. Allows the interviewee to ask follow up questions when they feel appropriate

Question 5

What is an interview schedule ?

Answer 5

A set of pre set questions for an interviewer to use d

Question 6

What is interviewer bias

Answer 6

Bias that occurs as a result of the interviewer. This may be the way they respond to participants, topics they are more interested in. Affects result

Question 7

What is a group interview

Answer 7

More then one participant at a time

Question 8

What should the interview schedule be ?

Answer 8

Standardised to reduce the effect of responder bias

Question 9

What kind of room should interviewer be in

Answer 9

Quiet room

Question 10

What allows rapport to be established

Answer 10

Neutral questions to start with to make them comfortable

Question 11

What should interviewees be reminded

Answer 11

Answers kept confidential

Question 12

What will have negative impact on quality of information ?

Answer 12

If respondents are confused by questions

Question 13

What three errors should be avoided

Answer 13

Overuse of jargon
Emotive language
Double barrelled questions
Double negatives

Question 14

Reliability

Answer 14

Structured - reliable standardised interview schedule
Semi structured - mixed some questions follow interview schedule so reliable
Unstructured- no set interview schedule so not standardised

Question 15

Interviewer bias

Answer 15

Structured- low following standardised interview scheudule so less likely to impact results themselves
Unstructured- high- interviewer not following standardised instructions and schudules
Semi structured- mixed-follows standardised instructions and Schedule but can ask follow up questions that increase their bias

Question 16

Validity

Answer 16

Structured- will measure what it set out to measure but can’t get additional information
Semi structured-as valid as possible - all information required by questions and also follow up questions give info on anything important
Unstructured- may measure what it set out to measure interviewers prompt interview to get info needed

Question 17

Data analysis

Answer 17

Structured- straightforward - only information that they are interested in
Easy to draw conclusion
Semi- straight forward for structured but unstructured difficult
Unstructured- complicated - sift through irrelevant info to find what they want difficult to draw conclusions

Question 18

Social desirability bias

Answer 18

Structured - interviewees may lie. As interviews follow set of standardised questions harder to establish whether participants are lying
Semi and unstructured - interviewees may lie but an experienced researcher can establish a sufficient rapport which gains info to see if lying