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Interviews

This course material is for non-commercial use only. Any public display, distribution and adaptation is not allowed for

any purposes.

+Content Outline

Overview of In-depth Interviews

Process of interviews

Reasons for Using Interviews

Advantages VS disadvantages of In-depth Interviews

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Overview of Interviews

+Intensive Interviews

Intensive interviews, or in-depth interviews, are the one-on-one interview approach.

+Examples of Intensive Interviews

Harrington (2003) conducted intensive interviews with a dozen individuals familiar with the storylines on the soap opera All My Children concerning the series’ portrayal of homosexuality.

Phalen (2000) carried out two-hour interviews with 14 female managers at radio and television stations. The responses to her open-ended questions suggested that her respondents experienced bias against female managers and instances of sexual harassment.

Lewis (2008) conducted intensive interviews with eight journalists who had either lost their jobs or were suspended due to plagiarism accusations.

Goal

To understand the

world from an

interviewee’s view

• Why does an interviewee understand theworld that way?

To find a meaning

from an interviewee’s

experience

• In which way does an interviewee see theworld?

To review an

authentic life of an

interviewee

• A researcher goes through a conceptual

process (abstraction) to explain the data

theoretically.

Related Parties

•Should ask questions that suit to interviewee’s background

•Should build a good relationship with an interviewee before/during/ after the interview and build comfortable atmosphere

•Should study the subject in advance

•Should focus on what an interviewee speaks sincerely

•Should be mindful about time consumption

Interviewer

• Should voluntarily gives an interview

• Should have knowledge/ experience about the subject

• Should have time for an interview

• Should not work in a similar field to a researcher (to avoid bias)

Interviewee

Should adjust

questions based

on interviewee’s

background

Should not be

close-ended

questions (Yes/

No)

Should come

from theory/situation analysis

Guided

Questions

for

Interview

Should be easily

adjusted during

the interview

Should arrangequestion

ssystematicall

y

Should prepare

appropriate

amount of

questions (lasts

2 hours)

Should test

questions in

advance

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Process of Interview

Process of Interview

Prepare and practice an interviewer

Prepare equipment(s) and set up a location and time

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•Before

•Declare the objectives of the study to an interviewee (should be alsoshown in a document)

Start an interview (clear doubts interviewee may have at the beginning)

Reach the climax

Close the interview (should create a relaxing moment)

•

During•

•

After • Turn off a recorder immediately

3: How o

Example of Interview

Main Question

(Planned)

•

•

Q1: When do you play social media?

A1: I use it when I have free time.

Sub-question

(Impromptu)•Q2: When is your free time?A2: It is after the school.

•

• Q3: How often do you use the social media after school?A3: About 2 hours.•

Sub-question

(Impromptu)

Data Record

Ask for a

permission

before

using a

recorder

Use

keyword to

take note

and focus

on the

interview

Always has

a back-up

recorder

Usin

g a

Record

er

Note

Takin

g

Back-U

p

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Reasons for Using Interviews

+Reasons for Using Interviews

They generally use smaller samples.

+Reasons for Using Interviews

They provide detailed background about the reasons respondents give specific answers. Elaborate data concerning respondents’ opinions, values, motivations, recollections, experiences, and feelings are obtained.

+Reasons for Using Interviews

They allow for lengthy observation of respondents’ nonverbal responses.

+Reasons for Using Interviews

They are usually long. Unlike personal interviews used in survey research that may last only a few minutes, an intensive interview may last several hours and may take more than one session.

+Reasons for Using Interviews

They can be customized to individual respondents. In a personal interview, all respondents are usually asked the same questions. Intensive interviews allow interviewers to form questions based on each respondent’s answers.

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+Reasons for Using Interviews

They can be influenced by the interview climate. To a greater extent than with personal interviews, the success of intensive interviews depends on the rapport established between the interviewer and the respondent

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Advantages of Intensive Interview

+Advantages of Intensive Interview

The most important advantage of the in-depth interview is the wealth of the detail that it provides.

+Advantages of Intensive Interview

When compared to survey methods, intensive interviewing provides more accurate responses on sensitive issues. The rapport between respondent and interviewer makes it easier to approach certain topics that might be taboo in other approaches.

Ex. Violent, aggressive behavior

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Disadvantages of Interviews

+Disadvantages of Interviews

Generalizability is sometimes a problem. Intensive interviewing is typically done with a nonrandom sample. Since interviews are usually non-standardized, each respondent may answer a slightly different version of a question.

+Disadvantages of Interviews

They are especially sensitive to interviewer bias. In a long interview, it is possible for a respondent to learn a good deal of information about the interviewer. Despite practice and training, some interviewers may inadvertently communicate their attitudes through loaded questions, nonverbal cues, or tone of voice.

+Disadvantages of Interviews

The effect of this on the validity of a respondent’s answers is difficult to gauge. Finally, intensive interviewing presents problems in data analysis. A researcher given the same body of data taken from an interview may wind up with interpretations significantly different from those of the original investigator.

+Reference

This course material is for non-commercial use only. Any public display, distribution and adaptation is not allowed for any purposes.Wimmer, R. & Dominick, J. (2011). Mass Media Research: An Introduction (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth.

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