THE PROS AND CONS OF FACETOFACE INTERVIEWS Barbara

THE PROS AND CONS OF FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS Barbara Fleeman IS 280: Social Science Research Methods Fall 2009

Social Cues

Synchronous in Time

Synchronous in Place

Recording Interview Data

Termination

Face-to-Face is best when… � � � Social cues of the interviewee are very important Interviewer has time and budget for travel, if necessary Standardization of the interview situation is important. ~Opdenakker 2006

References � Birch, Maxine and Tina Miller. “Inviting Intimacy: the Interview as Therapeutic Opportunity. ” International Journal of Social Research Methodology 3 (2000): 189202. � Opdenakker, Raymond. “Advantages and Disadvantages of Four Interview Techniques in Qualitative Research. ” Forum: Qualitative Social Research 7, no. 4 (2006), http: //www. qualitativeresearch. net/index. php/fqs/article/view. Article/175/391 � Rosenthal, Robert and Ralph L. Rosnow. Essentials of Behavioral Research. New York: Mc. Graw-Hill, 2008.

EMAIL INTERVIEWS: Asynchronous communication of place and time

Email Interviews ADVANTAGES Saving costs and time Extended access to participants Noise Time DISADVANTAGES Interviewer has no view on the situation in which the interviewee is situated Lack of social cues Time No spontaneity

Using e-mail interviews for collecting information is preferred, when: � � � � social cues of the interviewee are not important information sources for the interviewer; the interviewer has a small budget and less time for travelling; looking for access to people on sites which have closed or limited access; it is necessary to remain anonymous; there is a huge time difference; the interviewer and the interviewee both have access to computers; it is necessary that the interviewee takes time to respond (Opdenakker, 2006)

TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS

What are the advantages of telephone interviews? � � � � Greater access to people Makes it easier to reach hard to interview populations Access to closed sites Opportunity to obtain more readily sensitive accounts Dangerous or politically sensitive sites are more easily accessible Greater opportunities for spontaneous replies from interviewees Interviews can be recorded and later transcribed

What are the disadvantages of telephone interviews? � � There is a decrease in social cues Greater opportunities for a weak interview ambience More possibilities for interruptions Greater concentration is needed on the questions asked answers supplied

References � Opdenakker, Raymond. “Advantages and Disadvantages of Four Interview Techniques in Qualitative Research. ” Forum: Qualitative Social Research 7, no. 4 (2006), http: //www. qualitative-research. net/index. php/fqs/article/view. Article/175/391