L11 - Collecting data - Interviews

Question 1

Name the three different types of interviews (Rowley, 2012)

Answer 1

Structured, semi-structured, unstructured

Question 2

Structured interviews

Answer 2

• Formally structured
• No deviation from question
• Wording of each question as written
• No additional questions
• Similar in format as survey

Question 3

Semi-structured interview

Answer 3

• More or less structured interview guide
• Wording of questions are flexible
• Level of language may be adjusted
• Interviewer makes clarifications, adds or delete probes

Question 4

Unstructured interview

Answer 4

• Free-flowing conversation
• No set order to any questions
• No set wording
• Interviewer makes clarifications, adds or delete probes

Question 5

When are structured interviews useful? (Rowley, 2012)

Answer 5

• Information gathering/fact checking
• Hypotheiss testing
• When comparability is needed

Question 6

When are semi-structured interviews useful? (Rowley, 2012)

Answer 6

• When you have some idea of the phenomenon (concepts, linkage between concepts)
• When comparisons are needed
• When interviewing a larger number of individuals

Question 7

When are unstructured interviews useful? (Rowley, 2012)

Answer 7

• If the interviewer has limitied prior knowledge (The interviwee guides the interview)
• When we don’t know what is there
• In connection with other methods e.g. observations

Question 8

Name the different forms of interviews

Answer 8

• Face-to-face
• Telephone
• E-mail
• Virtual
• Group

Question 9

What are the two approaches for determining length and number of questions in an interview? (Rowley, 2012)

Answer 9

Theoretical and pragmatic

Question 10

Theoretical approach

Answer 10

The length of the interview as well as the number that you need to conduct depend on the nature of your research questions, and your research strategy
• E.g. an in-depth ethnographic study in which sensitive personal issues are being explored might require longer, and less structured interviews

Question 11

Pragmatic approach

Answer 11

It is important to take into account both the length of time that interviewees are willing to make available for the interview, and the number of willing participants that can be identified.

Question 12

Advantages of interviews

Answer 12

• Learn about people’s interpretations and points of view
• Compare between different interpretations
• Insight into important narratives
• Insigts into local norms, ideals, values

Question 13

Disadvantages of interviews

Answer 13

• Knowledge depends on question asked
• Difference between saying and doing – You get the interviewee’s own perceptions
• Targets only existing knowledge that can be put into words
• Interviews are complex social situations

Question 14

How can you ensure that questions are understandable? (Rowley, 2012)

Answer 14

Questions should be checked to ensure that they:
• are not leading or have implicit assumptions
• do not include two questions in one
• do not invite “yes/no” answers
• are not too vague or general
• are not, in any sense, invasive
• also consider the order of the questions

Question 15

Name the four different views on interviews (Alvesson, 2003)

Answer 15

Neopositivist, romaticists, localist, reflexitivist

Question 16

Neopositivst

Answer 16

“The interview as a research instrument”

Neopositivists are eager to establish a context-free truth about reality “out there” through following a research protocol and getting responses relevant to it, minimizing researcher influence and other sources of bias.

Question 17

Romanticist

Answer 17

“the interview as a human encounter”

The romantic, advocating a more “genuine” human interaction, believes in establishing rapport, trust, and commitment between interviewer and interviewee, in particular in the interview situation. This is needed in order to be able to explore the inner world (meanings, ideas, feelings, intentions) or experienced social reality of interviewee.

Question 18

Localist

Answer 18

“the interview as an empirical situation”
Localists’ approach emphasizes that interview statements must be seen in their social context.
E.g. People talk with their bosses, they serve customers, they drive trucks. They also participate in interviews

Question 19

Reflexitivist

Answer 19

“Think about the content and situation”

• This approach means working with alternative lines of interpretation and vocabularies and reinterpreting the favored line(s) of understanding through the systemic involvement of alternative