Research Methodology: Unstructured Interviews

Structured interviews have more controls over the nature of the interaction, reducing the risk of data distortion.

Gender differences may influence the interviewee's response, leading to potential biases in the data.

Cultural differences may lead to misunderstandings due to different meanings given to the same words.

<p>Mead, who couldn't speak the language, was unable to detect when the girls she interviewed were deliberately misleading her.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The social desirability effect refers to the tendency of interviewees to provide answers they think are socially acceptable, rather than their genuine opinions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural differences may prevent interviewers from recognizing dishonest responses, as they may lack understanding of cultural norms and cues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Researchers can use techniques to improve the validity of interview data, such as controlling for interviewer-interviewee differences and minimizing the social desirability effect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unstructured interviews may be more susceptible to data distortion due to the lack of controls over the interaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They may not want to appear ignorant or uninteresting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Informed consent</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Causing psychological harm</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Closed-ended questions</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They lack validity and flexibility</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They produce valid data by allowing interviewees to express themselves fully</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Quantification is difficult</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interviewer bias and status or cultural differences between interviewer and interviewee</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main difference is that in the interview, the questions are read out and the answers filled in by a trained interviewer rather than by the interviewee.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Structured interviews are more expensive than postal questionnaires, but can cover large numbers of people with relatively limited resources, whereas postal questionnaires can reach huge numbers of people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Straightforward factual information such as a person's age or job.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because they use closed-ended questions with coded answers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Training interviewers is relatively straightforward and inexpensive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Structured interviews and questionnaires share many of the same advantages and disadvantages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They can cover large numbers of people with relatively limited resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because they use closed-ended questions with coded answers, making it easy to quantify the results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unstructured interviews can take a long time to conduct, leading to a relatively small sample size.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To recognize sociologically important points and probe further with appropriate questioning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Establishing rapport with the interviewee.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sample may not be representative of the larger population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It limits the number of interviews that can be conducted and increases the cost.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Structured interviews can be used to study a larger number of participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure that they can recognize and probe important points made by the interviewee.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The interviewer's biases and perspectives can influence the data collected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure that the interview was conducted in precisely the same way, with the same questions, in the same order, with the same wording and tone of voice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A limited range of alternative answers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Between about ten minutes and half an hour.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>That another researcher could repeat the research and get the same results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because they are easy to standardize and control.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>That any other researcher following the interview procedures should get very similar results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Following the same research procedures and methods to obtain similar results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By providing a clear and consistent approach to data collection, with the same questions, in the same order, with the same wording and tone of voice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>That they provide a reliable and consistent approach to data collection.</p> Signup and view all the answers