Interpretivist Research Methods Flashcards
(30 cards)
What are the interpretivist research methods?
- unstructured interviews
- focus groups/ group interviews
- field experiments
- observations
- documents
What are the practical issues of unstructured interviews?
Pros
- very flexible
Cons
- need a facility
- need trained staff
What are the ethical issues of unstructured interviews?
Pros
- people can withdraw if they feel a bit uncomfortable
Cons
- sensitivity
- could ask a harmful question
What are the theoretical issues of unstructured interviews?
Pros
- more valid that structured
- qualitative data
Cons
- lack of objectivity
What was Willis’ focus group research?
- Willis interviewed a group of w/c boys (the lads) who had formed an antischool subculture
- these boys rejected schools and all of its values and instead focused on they day they would eventually be able to leave to work working class jobs
What are the practical issues of focus groups?
Cons
- need funding
- need a sample
What are the ethical issues of focus groups?
Pros
- consent can be given
Cons
- harm
- no detachment or anonymity
What are the theoretical issues of focus groups?
Pros
- validity
- qualitative
Cons
- not reliable
-
What was sharpes unstructured interviews?
Sharpe conducted interviews with young women about their aspirations and careers, she found that girls aspirations had changed from love and marriage to education, jobs and being able to suport themselves
What was Oakleys unstructured interviews?
Oakley conducted interviews with women to understand the split in gender roles in a relationship
What was rosenthal and jacobsons field experiment?
Test for what extent could teachers expectations affect students grades. 20% of students were picked out of a hat and teachers were told that these students were ‘spurters’ or ‘late bloomers’ and would make significant progress. This resulted in teachers asking these students more questions (response opportunity factor) and they were given more feedback. Students were tested at the beginning and end of the year to see progress made. 47% of those ‘late bloomers’ made significant progress compared to their peers
What was wood et al file experiment
Test for racial discrimination in recruitment process. Job applications were sent out with different names that stereotypically signified race. Non British sounding names receives significantly less call backs than British sounding names
What are the practical issues of field experiments?
Pros
- dont have to hire anyone
Cons
- lots of planning
What are the ethical issues of field experiments?
Pros
- possible post hoc consent
Cons
- no informed consent can be given before hand
What are the theoretical issues of field experiments?
Pros
- ecological validity
Cons
- can’t control anything so less reliable
- might not be representative as it depends on the sample
What was Humphrey’s participant observation?
- tea room sex study
- Aimed to understand the behaviour of men who engaged in sexual acts in public restrooms/tearooms
-Humphrey’s went undercover and recorded interactions of men in the tearooms and even sometimes following them out to their everyday lives - Identified and interviewed some of the men
What was Malinowskis participant observation?
- Malinowski wanted to transform anthropology by having more of an insight
- Saw that natives were not that interested in ancient spirits as were reported everywhere
- People say one thing and do another, Malinowski should not listen to everyone else like anthropology suggests and instead should conduct his own research
- Pitched a tent among the natives to immerse himself in their native culture and learn their point of view
- Isolated because of war which helped him to really understand
What was venkateshs participant observation?
- Venkatesh tried to ask questions to gang members and instead got held hostage as they were convinced he was a rival trying to gain information
- This led him to hang out with a gang leader - JT
- Study is about the difficult place that people are in when they turn to a gang in order to survive
- Venkatesh became a gang leader for a day- walked around with a gang leader looked at what he did on a daily basis
- Saw how gang leaders live and how different the classes are
What are the practical issues of participant observations?
Cons
- hard to get in and get out
- takes lots of time
What are the ethical issues of participant observations?
Pros
- informed consent or post hoc consent
Cons
- deception can happen
What are the theoretical issues of participant observations?
Pros
- full immersion
- high validity
Cons
- Hawthorne effect
What is Flanders non participant observation?
Structured observation of teacher pupil interaction
Teacher Talk
1. Accepts pupil’s feelings
2. Praises or encourages pupils
3. Accepts of uses ideas of pupils
4. Ask questions
5. Lectures
6. Gives directions
7. Criticises pupils
Students Talk
8. Pupils respond to teacher
9. Pupil initiate talk
Silence
10. Silence or confusion
What is OFSTEDS non participant observation?
- Education inspection framework focuses on curriculum
- 4 main judgements:quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal developments, leadership and management
- Make sure that judgements are valid and reliable
What are the practical issues of non participant observation?
Pros
- can be cheap
-easy to conduct
Cons
- time consuming
-difficult to plan
- need access
