Sociology Research Methods: Interviews

What is the primary purpose of using interviews in sociological research?

• To conduct experiments

• To gain insight into the thoughts, opinions, and attitudes of respondents

• To collect statistical data

• To observe natural behaviors

Which type of interview is preferred by positivists?

• Unstructured interviews

• Group interviews

• Semi-structured interviews

• Structured interviews

What is a key characteristic of semi-structured interviews?

• They do not involve any pre-determined questions

• They follow a strict list of standardized questions

• They allow for follow-up questions based on responses

• They are conducted in groups

Which type of interview is more like a guided conversation?

• Group interviews

• Unstructured interviews

• Semi-structured interviews

• Structured interviews

What is a practical issue associated with conducting interviews?

• They are inexpensive

• They always provide quantitative data

• They require training and recruitment of interviewers

• They are quick to conduct

What is an ethical concern when conducting interviews on sensitive topics?

• Collecting quantitative data

• Dealing with respondents' psychologically upsetting memories

• Ensuring the questions are standardized

• Using a large sample size

What is a limitation of interviews in terms of validity?

• They are always reliable

• They may lead to socially desirable responses

• They always provide honest answers

• They are easy to replicate

Which type of interview is likely to provide lots of qualitative data?

• Structured interviews

• Group interviews

• Semi-structured interviews

• Unstructured interviews

What is an advantage of having a researcher present during an interview?

• It allows for clarification of questions and observation of non-verbal cues

• It ensures all questions are answered

• It reduces the cost of the research

• It guarantees quantitative data

Which researcher used unstructured interviews to study anti-school subcultures?

• Durkheim

• Willis

• Carlin

• Becker