Sociology: Interviews

Sociology: Interviews

1. Structured: Interview questionnaires

   • Positivists support
   • Similar to questionnaires
   • Findings are easily analysed
   • Quantitative data
   • High in reliability

2. Unstructured: No pre-planned questions, will just have ideas and topics to be spoken about

   • Interpretivists support
   • Informal freedom to vary questions
   • High in validity
   • Probling

3. Semi-structured: Falls between both, have pre-set questions but can add some in or ask them not in order

4. Group interviews: Up to 12 people. Paul Willis (1970) They are asked topics to discuss and give their opinions on

5. Status difference: The bigger the status = the less honest

6. Cultural difference: different meaning to words, lack of understanding

7. Social desirability: desire to please the interviewer

8. Interviewer bias: leading questions, body language or too familiar with interviewee