Research Methods- Interviews

Question 1

What is an interview?

Answer 1

A conversation between researcher and an interviewee when researcher asks a set of questions

Question 2

What do you have to do for an interview?

Answer 2

Pick a sample, organise interview, select/train interviewer, ask questions and record answers

Question 3

What are structured interviews?

Answer 3

Ask closed questions, like questionnaires but researcher is present to ask questions

Question 4

What kind of data do structured interviews give?

Answer 4

Quantitative and reliable data

Question 5

When are structured interviews used?

Answer 5

For large-scale social surveys

Question 6

What is the advantage of structured interviews?

Answer 6

Interviewer can explain and clarify the questions

Question 7

What are disadvantages of structured interviews?

Answer 7

• More expensive

- Interviewers have to follow list of questions so can’t ask for more detail

Question 8

What kind of data do unstructured interviews give?

Answer 8

Qualitative data

Question 9

What are advantages of unstructured interviews?

Answer 9

• Informal
• Flexible
• Good for researching sensitive topics
• Valid

Question 10

What are disadvantages of unstructured interviews?

Answer 10

• Interviewer needs skill
• Smaller samples so not very representative
• Time-consuming

Question 11

How can interviewers have an effect on people’s answers?

Answer 11

• Demand characteristics

- Interviewers can give subtle direction often without realising it