Interviews Flashcards
(7 cards)
What is social desirability?
+ what is interviewer bias?
When a respondent may change their behaviour or answer if they believe that there is a particular way that society would expect them to answer
+ the impact that the presence of a researcher may have on those answering the questions during an interview, it may change the way they respond
What are demand characteristics?
When a participant thinks that they have guessed what the researcher is trying to achieve or the way in which they ought to behave, they use this interpretation to change their actions
What are the 4 types of interview?
1) Structured interviews: similar to questionnaires as the interviewer follows a schedule & is given strict instructions on how to ask questions.
- standardised & closed questions with pre-coded answers
2) Unstructured interviews: like a guided conversation. The interviewer has complete freedom to vary the questions.
3) Semi-structured interviews: each interview has the same set of questions in common, but the interviewer can also probe for more.
4) Group interviews: interviews conducted with multiple people
What are some advantages & disadvantages of group interviews?
+ if others are sharing their own experiences people may be more comfortable sharing theirs
+ time & cost-effective
- not reliable
- herd mentality
- cannot maintain confidentiality & anonymity
- may not share the truth (less valid)
Which types of interviews do Positivists & Interpretivists favour?
Positivists favour structured interviews because their main goals are reliability, generalisability & representativeness.
Interprestivists favour unstructured interviews because their main goal is meanings & motives.
What are some similarities & differences between structured interviews & questionnaires?
+ both have set questions
+ both produce quantifiable data
- questionnaires are in the post not face to face unlike interviews
In which 6 ways can social interactions threaten the validity of interviews?
1) Interviewer bias: interviewer may ‘tell’ the respondent how to answer or struggle to remain detached
2) Artificiality: interviews are not a normal conversation so the results may lack validity
3) Status & power inequalities: inequalities between interviewer & interviewee may affect their willingness to tell the truth (e.g gender, age etc)
4) Cultural differences: may lead to misunderstandings or an inability to detect deception
5) Social desirability effect: interviewees may give answers that present them in a favourable light or offer an answer instead of saying “I don’t know”
6) Ethical issues: interviewees may feel pressured to answer. Sensitive topics could cause psychological harm. Anonymity, confidentiality & right to withdraw must be obtained.
