Research Methods Topic 4 - Interviews Flashcards
What are the two main formats of interviews?
Face to face and by telephone
How do interviews differ from questionnaires?
Interviews involve social interaction
What are the three main types of interviews?
- Unstructured/Informal
- Structured/Formal
- Semi-structured
Define unstructured interviews.
More like a guided conversation with freedom to vary questions
What characterizes structured interviews?
Strict instructions with same questions in the same order
What is a semi-structured interview?
Lies between structured and unstructured, allowing follow-up questions
What is a group interview?
Interviews conducted with several people together
What is the Hawthorne effect?
People change their behavior when being observed
List practical advantages of structured interviews.
- Quick and cheap
- Covers large numbers of people
- Easy to train interviewers
- Results are easily quantified
What ethical advantage do structured interviews have?
Allows for detachment from the interviewee
What is a disadvantage of structured interviews in terms of flexibility?
They are inflexible and may not reflect interviewee’s concerns
What feminist criticism is made against structured interviews?
They are patriarchal and distort women’s experiences
What are the practical strengths of unstructured interviews?
- Flexibility
- Opportunity to explore new topics
What ethical strength do unstructured interviews offer?
Allows the interviewer to develop rapport with the interviewee
What is a disadvantage of unstructured interviews regarding time?
They take significantly longer to conduct
What is a theoretical weakness of unstructured interviews?
They lack representativeness due to small sample sizes
What type of interview combines questioning with observing group dynamics?
Group interviews
What is the social desirability effect?
Interviewees give answers they think are more acceptable
What technique can improve interview validity by preventing lying?
Asking fast-paced questions
What is the role of matching characteristics between interviewer and interviewee?
It can improve the comfort level and openness of the interviewee
What is an ethical issue to consider in interviews?
Interviewees may feel pressured to answer questions
What are focus groups?
A form of group interview focusing on a specific topic
What is the impact of interviewer bias?
It can influence how the respondent answers
What is the main concern with artificiality in interviews?
Interviewees may not act naturally
