Sociological Methods Asking questions Interviews Wednesday 14 th
- Slides: 28
Sociological Methods Asking questions: Interviews, Wednesday 14 th December 2016
Recap Sociological Research Primary Data Observation Asking Questions Participant Questionnaires Primary or Secondary Data Observation Interviews Non-Participant (Structured or Observation Unstructured) Overt /Covert
Lesson Aims 1. Examine the skills needed in order to conduct a good interview 2. Identify the main types of interviews used in sociological research 3. Examine the usefulness of interviews in sociological research
TASK: Identify three skills needed for an effective interview 2 mins
Interviews in Sociology Interview Skills: Ø Create rapport and trust with respondents. Leads to better results Ø Start with very general questions, then more specific questions. Ø Avoid leading questions. © onlineclassroom. tv
Primary Data Types of Interviews Structured Unstructured Pre-set questions No pre-planned Asking Questions (via questionnaire) schedule - more like that are delivered a conversation. face to face or by the telephone
Interviews remain the most common data collection method in qualitative research Interviews are a familiar and flexible way of asking people about their opinions and experiences.
Structured Interviews • Structured Interviews are based on a standardised list of prepared questions administered by an interviewer • Questions can be open and closed
Validity vs Reliability
Structured Interviews: Advantages Ø Standardised data collection. (easy to compare respondents) – can elicit quantitative data Ø High reliability (easy to replicate) Ø Large numbers, quick, cheap.
Structured Interviews: Disadvantages Ø May lack validity. Ø Lack of depth [questions may not cover respondent’s experiences]. Ø Lack of flexibility. Ø Meaning problem. (the same question may be interpreted in different ways by your interviewees)
Unstructured interview • Unstructured interviews are like conversations • No pre planned questions • Questions are added or adapted at the interview progresses.
Strengths Weaknesses 1. Increase validity and depth 3. Time consuming 4. Allows for elaboration 7. They give you a better undertsanding of things from the respondent’s point of view 6. Greater flexibility: can lead to the development of new ideas 5. They are only suitable for relatively small samples 8. The interviewer needs to be highly skilled 2. They are unreliable as this method is not standardised
Semi-Structured Interview • The use of some pre-formulated questions, but no strict adherence to them. New questions might emerge during the conversation • Share the same sort of advantages and disadvantages as unstructured interviews
TASK: Worksheet – exam practice 10 mins
Limitations of All Interviews: • Interviewer bias – Interviewer may ask leading questions, which is more of a danger in unstructured interview as this can influence the answer. Versheten (pronounced ‘ferchaen’) - try to see it from interviewees perspective, prevents the imputing of meanings and values into research • Interview Effect - may give ‘socially expected’ answers. Hawthorne Effect - Changes in the behaviour of participants resulting from an awareness that they are taking part in an experiment/research. • Lack of ecological validity - cannot tell us how people really behave. • Ethical issues – not informing interviewees the real purpose of interview
Group Matching Task Type of interview or issue and a response that goes with it 10 mins
EXTENSION TASK: Read the statements at the end of your worksheet and indicate whether they apply to structured or unstructured interviews 10 mins
Extension Test Name an advantage of collecting quantitative data
Answer It's less likely to be biased
Test Name a disadvantage of collecting quantitative data
Answer It may not produce data which is valid
Test What types of interviews are available to researchers?
Answer Structured, unstructured, semi structured
Test What is a problem with participant observation?
Answer Going Native
Test What is a problem with overt observation?
Answer Hawthorne Effect
- Sociological imagination vs sociological perspective
- Sociological interview questions
- Open-ended questions examples
- Whats a tag question
- Present continuous for future
- Sponge and panning for gold approach
- Observing and asking questions
- "answer questions or ask a question"
- Asking scientific questions activity
- You always answer the questions in spanish
- Example of qualitative vs quantitative
- Pros and cons of telephone interviews
- Unusual job interviews
- Content analysis interviews
- Primary research interviews
- Analyse af kvalitative interviews
- Unstructured interview
- Disadvantages of unstructured interviews
- Lean discovery
- Biggest weakness interview question
- General standoutishness
- Disadvantages of unstructured interviews
- Moderately structured interview
- Disclaimer for interviews
- Laddering technique
- Group interviews advantages and disadvantages
- Disclaimer for interview
- Conducting computerized interviews
- Kvale og brinkmann