7.1.2 - Interviews
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Understanding Interviews
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we're exploring the interview method in sociology. Interviews are in-depth discussions with individuals that can provide rich qualitative data. Can anyone tell me what they think the main advantage of using interviews instead of surveys might be?
Maybe because we can ask follow-up questions?
Exactly! That flexibility is key. Interviews allow us to explore topics more deeply. What about their disadvantages? Can anyone think of one?
They might not represent a large number of people since there are fewer participants.
Right! This means findings might be less generalizable. Let's remember the acronym FLE—Flexibility, Limited sample, and Exploration—for interviews.
Structured vs. Unstructured Interviews
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now, let's distinguish between structured and unstructured interviews. In a structured interview, we follow a set list of questions. Why do you think someone might choose this approach?
I guess it's easier to compare answers?
Exactly. It creates a clear framework. And how about unstructured interviews?
They seem to be more free-flowing, allowing for deeper conversation.
That's right! They can delve deeper into personal insights. Remember, when you think of unstructured interviews, think of 'depth'—it allows for deeper understanding.
Practical Application of Interviews
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Finally, let’s discuss how to apply interviews in practice. Suppose you are focusing on students’ happiness in schools. What kind of questions would you consider asking?
I think I’d ask them how they feel about their classes and if they feel included.
And I’d want to know about their friends and if they’re making good memories!
Those are great starting points! Remember to keep it open-ended to gather detailed responses. Is there anything else we should consider when preparing for interviews?
We should think about the environment where we conduct the interview to make them comfortable.
Exactly! Comfort is key for honest answers. Let’s summarize: interviews are about flexibility, depth, and the environment.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
The section details the process of conducting interviews as a research method in sociology, explaining how structured and unstructured interviews can provide in-depth data. It also contrasts interviews with surveys and observations, noting their respective strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, practical advice for successful interviews and the importance of selecting appropriate research questions is emphasized.
Detailed
Interviews in Sociological Research
Interviews are a vital research method in sociology that allow for in-depth exploration of subjects. Unlike surveys that often reach a large audience with fixed questions, interviews are conducted one-on-one or in small groups and can be either structured or unstructured.
Characteristics of Interviews
- In-Person Format: Conducted face-to-face, different from the impersonal nature of written surveys.
- Flexibility: Interviews can adapt in real-time based on respondents' answers, allowing for clarification and follow-up questions.
- Scope of In-depth Data: They yield richer, more detailed insights into participants' perspectives.
However, interviews also have disadvantages:
- Limited Sample Size: Typically involve fewer participants than surveys.
- Subjectivity: Findings may reflect biases of both interviewer and interviewee, impacting the generalizability of results.
Practical Applications
Interviews are particularly suitable for exploratory research where the research questions are complex and nuanced. For example, sociologists can use interviews to gather opinions about sensitive topics or to understand personal experiences in-depth.
Example Scenario
If a researcher wants to explore how students from different school types feel about their education environment, conducting interviews allows for probing deeper into each student's feelings and thoughts.
Ultimately, while interviews can be resource-intensive, they provide indispensable qualitative data that enriches the understanding of sociological phenomena.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Understanding Interviews
Chapter 1 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
An interview is different from a survey in that it is always conducted in person and usually involves much fewer persons (as few as 5, 20, or 40, usually not much more than that). Interviews may be structured, that is, follow a pre-determined pattern of questions or unstructured, where only a set of topics is pre-decided, and the actual questions emerge as part of a conversation.
Detailed Explanation
Interviews are a qualitative research method used to gather in-depth insights. Unlike surveys, which can involve large numbers of respondents and fixed questions, interviews are more personal. They typically involve fewer participants and allow for flexible conversation. In a structured interview, the interviewer follows a set script, while in an unstructured interview, the questions can evolve naturally based on the conversation.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you are having a deep conversation with a friend about their experiences with school. If you stick to specific questions like 'What is your favorite subject?' that’s similar to a structured interview. But if you start discussing how a particular teacher affected them and that leads you to ask additional questions based on their responses, that’s more like an unstructured interview.
Advantages of Interviews
Chapter 2 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Interviews have the advantage of being flexible in that promising topics may be pursued in greater detail, questions may be refined or modified along the way, and clarifications may be sought.
Detailed Explanation
One of the key benefits of interviews is their flexibility. If during the interview, the participant mentions something interesting, the interviewer can change direction to explore that topic further. This type of engagement can lead to more profound insights than a fixed survey, where questions cannot be altered.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a detective in a mystery novel. Instead of just checking off questions in a notebook, they listen closely to the person's story, picking up on subtle hints that guide them to ask deeper questions. This way, they uncover hidden details that could be crucial to solving the case.
Disadvantages of Interviews
Chapter 3 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The disadvantage of the interview method is that it cannot cover a large number of people and is limited to presenting the views of a select group of individuals.
Detailed Explanation
While interviews offer depth, they do not represent a broad audience. Researchers may get rich, detailed information from a small group, but they cannot generalize these findings to a larger population. This means that important perspectives might be overlooked.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine interviewing a few exceptional athletes about their training. While their experiences might be valuable and insightful, they represent only a small fraction of all athletes. If you only rely on these interviews for understanding all athletes, you might miss out on important challenges faced by those who don't have the same resources or training opportunities.
Intensity and Duration of Interviews
Chapter 4 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Interviews may be more or less intensive, in the sense that one may interview a person for a long time (2–3 hours) or in repeated visits to get a really detailed version of their story.
Detailed Explanation
Interviews can vary in length and depth. Some might be short, lasting about 30 minutes, while others could take several hours. Longer interviews allow for deeper exploration of a participant's thoughts and feelings. They can even require multiple sessions to fully understand complex narratives.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a writer working on a biography. They might spend several hours interviewing their subject, aiming to gather not just facts but the emotional nuances of their experiences. It’s like going deep into a forest rather than just standing at the edge—much more can be discovered with time and attention.
Key Concepts
-
Interview: A method of qualitative research that includes direct, personal interaction.
-
Structured Interviews: A rigid format following specific questions for consistency.
-
Unstructured Interviews: A flexible format allowing spontaneous dialogue.
-
Qualitative Research: Research focused on understanding phenomena through detailed, non-numerical data.
Examples & Applications
In a research study on student well-being, an interview may reveal that students from co-ed schools express more satisfaction with their social interactions compared to those from single-sex schools.
A researcher conducting interviews on public transport may discover varied perceptions of accessibility among different socioeconomic groups.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
When you interview, it's a two-way flow, answers like seeds in a garden grow.
Stories
Imagine Jane, a researcher, who sits down with her subjects. Each interview reveals new layers of understanding, turning their thoughts into valuable insights—the power of conversation.
Memory Tools
FLE: Flexibility, Limited sample, Exploration—key aspects of interviews.
Acronyms
DIVE
Depth
Insight
Validation
Exploration—core benefits of conducting interviews.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Interview
A method of collecting qualitative data through direct interaction and conversations with individuals.
- Structured Interview
An interview format that follows a predetermined set of questions.
- Unstructured Interview
An interview format allowing for open-ended discussions and diverse questions.
- Qualitative Data
Data gathered that provides in-depth insights and understanding of complex issues.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.