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INTERVIEWS

Explore the various techniques and types of interviews used in social research, from structured interviews to semi-structured and unstructured interviews. Learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and considerations of each approach.

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INTERVIEWS

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  1. INTERVIEWS Presenters: Robert Farnsworth Roshani Shrestha Ardis Holldorsdottir Hannah Schechter

  2. Introduction Benney and Hughes (1970) stated that “An interview is the “favored digging tool” of social researchers. They rely largely on verbal accounts to learn about social life.” (as cited in Taylor and Bogdan, 1998. p. 87).

  3. Historical Men… Charles Booth 1840-1916 -Combined census data with interviews, observations and notes from the London School Board -Determined social class -Produced poverty maps of London Sigmund Freud 1856-1939 -Psychoanalysis

  4. More Historical Men… William Isaac Thomas 1863-1947 -Studied in Germany -Interests in ethnography -Studied Polish immigrants -Wrote book with Florian Znaniecki “The Polish Peasant” George Gallup 1901-1984 -The Gallup Poll -Interviewing public opinion -Global survey in 1976 of Quality of life around the world -Market research

  5. Original & Current Techniques Past- War Torture & Interrogation Present- Ahhhh- War…. Torture & Interrogation

  6. Disciplines • Conservation Social Sciences • Landscape Architecture • Sociology • Anthropology • Psychology • Education • Business • Media • Medicine • War

  7. Types of Interviews • Structured Interviews • Semi-structured Interviews • Unstructured Interviews

  8. Structured Interviews • Quantitative Approach • Definition • Interviewer gives a set of predetermined questions or “probes” to the interviewees • Aim • Measures facts, attitudes, knowledge, behavior • Finding accurate information without influences from the researcher

  9. Structured Interviews • Relationship between interviewer and interviewee • Minimize interaction • No distractions • No flexibility • strict control over interview

  10. Structured Interviews • Concern While Conducting Interviews • Keeping control of how questions are asked • Using the same questions for all interviewees • Following a fixed order • Using a rating scale or tick box • Ethical considerations

  11. Structured Interviews • Weaknesses • Close of theoretical avenues • Limit freedom to talk • Miss what interviewees think is important • Does not allow complexity of answers Strengths • Control • Reliability • Speed • Structuring reduces variability • Efficient use of time

  12. Structured Interviews • Quality of Data • Framing interview with tactics • Data collection process • Interpreting interview • Types of Interviews • Telephone • Face-to-face • Mail (usually associated with survey research

  13. Structured Interviews

  14. Semi-Structured Interviews • Everyone gets the same questions asked, but there is flexibility in how they are asked. • Particularly useful for exploring the views of a subject towards something

  15. Semi-Structured Interviews Strengths • Well suited for exploring attitudes, values, beliefs, and motives…. Sensitive areas (Barriball, 1993) • Non-verbal indicators assist in evaluating truthfulness/validity and urgency (Farnsworth, 2006) • Facilitates getting every question answered • Ensures the respondent is working on his/her own • Can potentially increase response rate…

  16. Semi-Structured Interviews Weaknesses • ‘Equivalence of meaning’ difficulties may arise • ‘Preferred social response’ • Non-response/particular groups being unrepresented • Invasion of privacy • Extenuating circumstances • Prejudices, stereotypes, appearances and/or perceptions of researcher may alter response

  17. Semi-Structured Interviews Getting Beyond the Constraints • Constructing the questionnaire is critical (Lazarsfeld, 1954) All questions must comply with three principles • Specification • Division • Tacit Assumption

  18. Semi-Structured Interviews Training for the interviews • Developing competency and understanding of the study • Developing an awareness of potential errors or biases

  19. Unstructured Interviews Also known as… • Qualitative interviewing • Non-directive interviewing • Non-standardized interviewing • Open-ended interviewing • In-depth interviewing

  20. Unstructured Interviews • Qualitative approach • Definition • “…repeated face-to-face encounters between the researcher and the informants directed toward understanding informants’ perspective on their lives, experiences, or situations as expressed in their own words” (Taylor & Bogdan, 1998, p. 88)

  21. Unstructured Interviews • Aim/Logic Learn what is… • Important to the participants • What meaning the phenomenon under study has to them • Their point of view • Their understanding and experiences • Types of in-depth interviews • Life History • Learn about events and activities that cannot be observed directly • To yield a broad picture of a range of settings, situations, or people • Group interviews

  22. Unstructured Interviews • Create trust between researcher and participant • Anonymity and confidentiality • Follow cultural rules • “nice and gentle” • Show interest • Be understanding

  23. Unstructured Interviews • To conduct a good interview You need to… • Benonjudgmental • Ask open questions • Allow people to speak • Be a good listener • Tolerate the silence • Probe when it is appropriate • Make sure you have the right understanding

  24. Unstructured Interviews • Weaknesses • People say and do different things in different situations • Language barriers • Time consuming • Researcher’s bias • Little control • Attention not focused on a given issue • Very little factual information provided Strengths • Rich data • Understand what is important to the participant • General understanding of provided when little is know about the issue • Important concepts are uncovered that can eventually guide future enquiries

  25. Ethics • Informed consent • Make sure the participants understand what the research is for and where it will be published • Protecting participants by changing names and places when necessary • Nonjudgmental interviewers • Trustworthy interviewers • Confidentiality • Member-checking

  26. Examples in CSS Alicia De la Cruz-Novey • Peruvian Tourism Comparing three protected areas- rainforest, coast, and highlands • Semi-structured interviews & archival data • How tour operators and local tourist initiatives can reduce negative impacts on the ecosystem • Questionnaires & archival data • Evaluate socioeconomic changes in communities with tourism plan • Questionnaires, archival data, & literature analysis • Evaluation of the cost and effectiveness of different types of participation for the development and implementation of tourism plans

  27. Examples in CSS Shannon Amberg • Perception of risks and benefits of eating fish • Will use semi-structured interviews to understand how media affects people’s choices • Will use the results to write a survey

  28. Conclusion Remember… Be like Oprah!

  29. Current Techniques • Interviewing for dating services…

  30. And now for some dating fun...

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