Types of interviews

Types of interviews

1. Questionnaries

   • They are short questions that can require eather large or small answers.The questions can be either someone asking you or wrighting in a paper alone. Can be used for statistics.The questions my not be answered by the person.
     • Advantages: Low cost for collecting large amounts of data in a short time. Compare answers easily with other participants.Data can be quickly organised.Reliable so is liked by positivists.
     • Disadvantages: Participants might find it difficult to answer the questions. They may lack validity since participants could have different behaviors during the day. The interpretivists create the questions they want and give little opportunities for people to express themselves.

2. Structured interviews

   • SImilar to questionaries but someone reads you the questions.They are simple and straight forward.The answers do not require explanations.
     • Advantages: They are fast and cheap compared with other types of interviews. Only read and record the answer. The close questions are easy to compare and quantify. Easy to identify patterns and correlations because of short answers. Positivists like them since the answers can be coded and then compared.is reliable and allows for generalizations.
     • Participants have little control over the interviw. The answers are on what society would answer and they will not express their feelings.Interpretivists = cant provide rich data or insights of peoples lifes.

3. Semi structured interviwes.

   • Same set of questions but are in more detail
     • Enables the interviw to probe which adds depth and detail to the answers.
     • Losses standarisation and compabilitiry.

4. Unstructured interviwes

   • Is like a guided conversation, the advice is more non-directive and rapport.. Edwaards and Holland: Lisetning is the key to following the anwers of
     • Participants express more their view points. To discover meanings - valid data ( interpretists ). More trust between the participant and the interviewer.Participaqnts can openmore up . Interpretists like it since its valid data.
     • Different statuses can affect the interview. People present themselves in a light way, with less validity. Positivists dont like it since is difficolt ot compare data.

5. Group interviwes

   • Collect data from a number of people at the same time. Cover several areas topics or themes.
     • Can obtain rich sources of information from several topics. Save money and time since people are interviewed together. people can feel more comfortable if there is a group that supports him.Recruit people. new ideas can be created to research on.
     • Researchers need to be careful if there is a sensible topic. Participants may influence each other. Participants may talk with each other. Confidentiality and privacy can be problematic.

6. Focus groups

   • They focus on a particular topic. Members can talke between them. Guided by a moderator.
     • Morgan: have similar likings and this encourages discussion. Interaction between participants makes them think deeper.Succesfull on sensitive topics.
     • Less control than in standarised groups.The moderator can intervine so that the interviw can run smoothly.Alot of group pressure so participants opinion could be not what they actually believed. the view expressed in the group can be difficult to asses.