In an interview scenario, which type of interview is ideal? One that produces concise, direct answers or one that produces detailed answers with reasoning?
You'd probably claim that this depends entirely on the interview context. For a job interview, the interviewer would most likely prefer answers that go into detail about the interviewee's background. For a focus group interview, the interviewer might prefer direct answers that help them improve their product or service.
This is one reason why it is important to consider which type of interview is most suitable for a sociological researcher.
In this explanation, we will talk about types of interviews in sociology, including structured interviews, semi-structured and group interviews.
- We'll also consider the advantages and disadvantages of each different type of interview.
- Then, we will discuss a feminist approach to researching women’s experiences and the role interviews play in them.
Before we study them closer, let's define 'interviews'.
An interview refers to verbal interactions between an interviewer and one or more respondents. Interviews can be conducted in person, on the phone, or through video chat. But in each case, they are more direct and personal interactions between the interviewer and the respondent than, for example, questionnaires.
The interview method in sociology
The interview is one of the primary methods of sociological data collection. They are usually used by sociologists to research more sensitive or complex subjects, and to gain in-depth knowledge of people’s ways of thinking and feeling about a specific topic.
To conduct them, researchers must create an interview schedule. In the case of structured interviews, this means a pre-prepared list of questions the researcher aims to cover. In the case of unstructured or group interviews, the interview schedule usually consists of a collection of subjects and topics that the respondents are supposed to discuss.
Fig. 1 - The interview schedule usually contains a set list of questions around a specific topic.
After the interview, the researcher has to create a transcript, which means they have to reproduce everything said during the interview in a written format. In order to do this well, researchers usually record their interviews.
Interview style: The type and/or style of an interview depends on the preferences of the researchers. Some sociologists choose to establish a personal connection with the interviewees based on empathy and trust, while others go the opposite way. Howard Becker (1970) claimed that the aggressive interviewing style works very well in revealing hidden racist biases in people.
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