Structured interviews
Practical (Advantages & Disadvantages) Ethical issues Theoretical (Advantages & Disadvantages)
Ability to cover large The response rate is Informed consent: Harm: remind Hypothesis testing: enables Closed ended questions
numbers quickly. also higher than a ask participants to participants that sociologists to test hypotheses mean that there are
questionnaire because sign and say they they don't need to and identify possible cause and limited numbers of
some people may agree to take part answer any effect relationships and establish possible answers none of
welcome a face to face (parental consent for questions they correlations between variables. these may fit what the
Suitable for gathering
talk. under 16s). Remind don't wish to. Then, a hypothesis about interviewee a wishes to
simple information.
participants that possible causes can be say. ‘Snapshots’ taken at
they can stop the constructed and then tested. one point in time don't
interview at any reflect full life.
time.
Training interviewers Inflexible. Can't pursue Deception: Anonymity: data Representative: because Researcher bias:
is inexpensive they interesting leads. The participants should should be interviews are relatively quick researcher decides in
simply need to follow research art must also be informed of the published in a way and cheap, large numbers can advance what topics are
a set of instructions. have some knowledge full aim and nature that keeps the be interviewed. High response important. May not
However, more costly of the subject / issue. of interview at the participants rates and sophisticated sampling include what the
than questionnaires. start. identity's techniques. Data used as a basis interviewee thinks is
confidential and to make generalisations. important. Researchers
untraceable in line view imposed.
with GDPR.
Results easily Sample may be Feminists- relationship between the Reliable: standardised No opportunity to clarify
quantified. This is untypical e.g. they may researcher and interviewee reflects the measuring instrument. misunderstood questions
because they usually have time on their exploitative nature of gender Interviewers can be trained to or answers.
use closed ended hands. Leads to relationships. Reinharz- researchers ‘give conduct interviews the same
questions with pre- unrepresentative data nothing in return’ and ‘break contact’ way. Easy to replicate. Asking
coded answers that limits when they have the data they need. the same questions allows us to
suitable to test generalisations. Oakley- male sociologists regard science compare answers easily to People may lie or
exaggerate impresses
hypotheses. as more important than furthering the identify similarities and
interests of the people that they research. differences. Pre-coded answers interview us/
embarrassed social
Strict division of labour in interviews- mean that later researcher’s will
researcher= active role, interviewee = categorise answers in the same desirability bias.
passive role. Graham- concealed unequal way as the original researcher.
power relationships. Oakley and Graham-
use other methods.
Practical (Advantages & Disadvantages) Ethical issues Theoretical (Advantages & Disadvantages)
Ability to cover large The response rate is Informed consent: Harm: remind Hypothesis testing: enables Closed ended questions
numbers quickly. also higher than a ask participants to participants that sociologists to test hypotheses mean that there are
questionnaire because sign and say they they don't need to and identify possible cause and limited numbers of
some people may agree to take part answer any effect relationships and establish possible answers none of
welcome a face to face (parental consent for questions they correlations between variables. these may fit what the
Suitable for gathering
talk. under 16s). Remind don't wish to. Then, a hypothesis about interviewee a wishes to
simple information.
participants that possible causes can be say. ‘Snapshots’ taken at
they can stop the constructed and then tested. one point in time don't
interview at any reflect full life.
time.
Training interviewers Inflexible. Can't pursue Deception: Anonymity: data Representative: because Researcher bias:
is inexpensive they interesting leads. The participants should should be interviews are relatively quick researcher decides in
simply need to follow research art must also be informed of the published in a way and cheap, large numbers can advance what topics are
a set of instructions. have some knowledge full aim and nature that keeps the be interviewed. High response important. May not
However, more costly of the subject / issue. of interview at the participants rates and sophisticated sampling include what the
than questionnaires. start. identity's techniques. Data used as a basis interviewee thinks is
confidential and to make generalisations. important. Researchers
untraceable in line view imposed.
with GDPR.
Results easily Sample may be Feminists- relationship between the Reliable: standardised No opportunity to clarify
quantified. This is untypical e.g. they may researcher and interviewee reflects the measuring instrument. misunderstood questions
because they usually have time on their exploitative nature of gender Interviewers can be trained to or answers.
use closed ended hands. Leads to relationships. Reinharz- researchers ‘give conduct interviews the same
questions with pre- unrepresentative data nothing in return’ and ‘break contact’ way. Easy to replicate. Asking
coded answers that limits when they have the data they need. the same questions allows us to
suitable to test generalisations. Oakley- male sociologists regard science compare answers easily to People may lie or
exaggerate impresses
hypotheses. as more important than furthering the identify similarities and
interests of the people that they research. differences. Pre-coded answers interview us/
embarrassed social
Strict division of labour in interviews- mean that later researcher’s will
researcher= active role, interviewee = categorise answers in the same desirability bias.
passive role. Graham- concealed unequal way as the original researcher.
power relationships. Oakley and Graham-
use other methods.
