structured interviews Flashcards
(17 cards)
what are structured interviews
interviews with fixed questions
what are closed questions
fixed answers and inflexible questions
what are standardised questions
questions made the same across all contexts to allow for comparison
what is an interview schedule
set list of questions prepared in advance
what is social desirability
when we feel there’s a desired answer, we change how we respond
what are researcher characteristics
qualities of a researcher that may influence the research
example of a structured interview
Wilmott and Young’s research into family structure. formal and standardised interviews of a large sample, writing a fairly short and simple reply to each
strengths of Wilmott and Young’s structured interviews
- large sample allowing representation
- formal and standardised
- precise questions with limited range of answers
- high reliability
- time and cost effective
weaknesses of Wilmott and Young’s structured interviews
- time taken to employ interviewers
- can’t build rapport
- inflexible
- ethical concerns of sensitivity for vulnerable groups
practical strengths of structured interviews
- quicker to consume more data
- large samples
- less elaboration, so can get through more interviews
- higher response rate
- quantifiable
ethical strengths of structured interviews
- gain informed consent
- right to withdraw explained
- no deception
- no issues of harm
theoretical strengths of structured interviews
- data is easier to operationalise
- answers pre-coded and more generalisable
- reliable as questions are fixed
- replicable
- limited interviewer bias
practical disadvantages of structured interviews
- inflexible
- influenced by researcher bias
- time constraint
- interviewers require training
ethical disadvantages of structured interviews
- unsuitable for sensitive topics due to formal setting
- vulnerable groups
- no rapport is off-putting for some respondents
theoretical disadvantages of structured interviews
- lower in validity
- low in objectivity
- cannot explore feelings and experiences
- cannot expand
- formal and rigid structure
- might be forced to fix answers to categories they have been given
who favours structured interviews
- can be fixed and make comparisons
- reliable and replicable
- standardised
- more representative
who doesn’t favour structured interviews
- lack validity and flexibility
- can’t gauge a deeper understanding due to fixed questions
- no vestehen/ depth/ meanings
