Interview Types and Evaluation in Sociological Research
This comprehensive page explores different types of interviews and their evaluation in sociological research, focusing on structured and unstructured approaches.
Definition: Structured interviews involve pre-planned questions in a set order, primarily using closed questions to gather quantitative data.
Highlight: Unstructured interviews are characterized by their informal nature, allowing for rapport building and flexible questioning.
The text examines validity concerns in interviewing:
Example: Status differences can affect honesty - larger status gaps typically result in less truthful responses.
Vocabulary: Social desirability bias refers to respondents' tendency to provide answers they believe will please the interviewer.
The PET evaluation framework analyzes interviews through three lenses:
Practical considerations:
- Rapport building in unstructured interviews
- Time and resource requirements
- Sample size limitations
Ethical aspects:
Quote: "Mead's study of adolescents in Samoa revealed how participants deliberately misled her, highlighting the importance of cultural understanding."
Theoretical implications:
- Interpretivist preference for unstructured approaches
- Positivist preference for structured methods
- Validity and reliability considerations
Methods for improving validity include:
- Kinsey's quick-fire questioning technique
- Becker's "playing dumb" approach
- Nazroo's ethnic matching of interviewer and interviewee
Highlight: Willis's research on 'the lads' in 1970s schooling demonstrates the effective use of semi-structured interviews with up to 12 participants.
