Use of Group Interviews to Investigate Subject Choices

Question 1

Advantages

Answer 1

• Rich Qualitative Data
• Natural Setting
• Peer Interaction
• Efficient

Question 2

Rich Qualitative Data

Answer 2

Reveals in-depth reasons behind subject choices (e.g., peer influence, gender norms).

Question 3

Natural Setting

Answer 3

Encourages participants (especially young people) to speak freely.

Question 4

Peer Interaction

Answer 4

Sparks ideas and discussion that may not arise in one-to-one interviews

Question 5

why are Group Interviews efficient

Answer 5

Collects data from several participants at once.

Question 6

Disadvantages

Answer 6

• Peer Pressure
• Dominant Voices
• Sensitive Topics
• Data Analysis
• some pupils, teachers and parents may find it difficult to find a time to meet as a group

Question 7

Disadvantages: Peer Pressure

Answer 7

Responses may be influenced by group dynamics; some students may conform.

Question 8

Disadvantages: Dominant Voices

Answer 8

Loud or confident individuals may overshadow quieter participants.

Question 9

Disadvantages: Sensitive Topics

Answer 9

May be difficult to discuss personal issues (e.g., gender stereotypes or teacher bias) in front of peers.

Question 10

Disadvantages: Data Analysis

Answer 10

Difficult to transcribe and analyse overlapping speech and informal language.

Question 11

Practical Issues:

Answer 11

Access
Age of Participants
Theoretical Link

Question 12

Practical Issues: Access

Answer 12

Schools may restrict researcher access; must consider safeguarding and consent.

Question 13

Practical Issues: Age of Participant

Answer 13

Young people may need simplified questions or reassurance.

Question 14

Practical Issues: Theoretical Link

Question 15

Favoured by

Answer 15

Interpretivists

Question 16

Favoured by Interpretivists

Answer 16

seek valid, in-depth understanding of meanings behind behaviour.

Question 17

One of the general strengths of group interviews is it allows for respondents to…

Answer 17

• bounce ideas off each other
• This means you could get more in-depth answers than when interviewing individuals.
• also allows for respondents to check each other’s answers for accuracy

Question 18

The researcher can also …

Answer 18

check group dynamics to know when to interject and possibly detect if respondents are exaggerating or lying based on the responses of others.

Question 19

All of these advantages mean group interviews should have relatively high validity , however …

Answer 19

these strengths may not apply when researching this particular topic of subject choice.

Question 20

If you are researching small groups of students and trying to find out their personal motives for choosing say science, or maths or performing arts, for example

Answer 20

• they may not be forthcoming with their real motives if those motives are not perceived as being acceptable to peers.
• Embarrassment may prevent individuals from telling the truth in a group setting because of peer pressure.

Question 21

student giving socially desirable motives

Answer 21

• ideas about what is acceptable or cool may result in students in a group giving you what they see as socially desirable motives rather than their actual motives.
• E.g. among boys it might be desirable to make a lot of money, so that might be the reason given for choosing economics, rather than them just being interested in the subject.

Question 22

Validity may further be reduced by …

Answer 22

the types of student
- W/c boys are less likely to see taking an interest in school as cool, thus you are less likely to get valid information about students liking a subject as the motive.
-However with m/c boys it is more acceptable to express interest in school work

Question 23

Where parental influence is concerned…

Answer 23

it may be seen as shameful to admit this in front of one’s peers

Question 24

Girls

Answer 24

more comfortable with conversational settings and discussing their feelings, thus you are more likely to get valid information about why girls choose their subjects compared to boys

Question 25

The mix of different classes, different genders and ethnicities in the group would also influence the results

Answer 25

⬆ difficult to repeat if you had a mixture because you may not be able to get the same mix in other schools - = if you want reliability, you might want to do research on just boys and girls from one class background and ethnicity - or subject by subject basis, and ask students why they chose that subject, = more specific information compared to asking students in general.

Question 26

Another possible way of getting validity in group settings might be to get...

Answer 26

all the boys, for example, who chose typically girls subjects, they might be more willing to open up if they are with other students who have chosen subjects outside of their gender domain

Question 27

practicality

Answer 27

- you would have to do these interviews in school, it’s going to be difficult to get groups of students together outside. - need to get past the headmaster, the teacher, gain parental consent ideally

Question 28

Group interviews would be ______ than individual interviews initially

Answer 28

quicker