Interviews

Definition

Interviews are structured conversations where one person asks questions and another provides answers, often used as a qualitative research method to gather insights about individual experiences, thoughts, and perceptions. This method allows for deep exploration of topics related to personal identity, social roles, and the impact of class and status on performance in various contexts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Interviews can be conducted in various formats, including face-to-face, telephone, or online, each affecting the nature of the interaction and the responses given.
2. The design of an interview can influence outcomes; open-ended questions tend to encourage more detailed responses than closed questions.
3. Interviewers must be aware of their own biases and how their social status may affect the responses from participants.
4. The context of an interview—such as the location and the relationship between interviewer and interviewee—can significantly impact the dynamics of the conversation.
5. Interviews are valuable for understanding how individuals perceive their own social standing and how it influences their performances in different settings.

Review Questions

• How do interviews function as a tool for understanding individual experiences related to class and status?
  • Interviews allow researchers to gather personal narratives that reveal how individuals perceive their own social status and class. Through open-ended questions, participants can share their experiences and insights, which might highlight the ways in which class influences their interactions and performances in various social contexts. This qualitative approach helps capture the complexity of social identity as it relates to performance.
• Discuss the impact of interviewer bias on the outcomes of interviews focused on class and status.
  • Interviewer bias can significantly skew the results of interviews by influencing how questions are asked and how responses are interpreted. If an interviewer holds preconceived notions about class or status, it might affect the way they frame questions or react to answers. This bias can lead to a misrepresentation of participants' true feelings or experiences, ultimately impacting the reliability of data collected on sensitive topics like class dynamics and personal identity.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of interviews compared to other data collection methods in exploring performance related to social stratification.
  • Interviews can provide rich, detailed insights into how individuals navigate their social environments, making them particularly effective for exploring nuanced topics like performance related to social stratification. Unlike quantitative methods that may overlook individual stories or contextual factors, interviews enable researchers to capture the complexity of personal experiences. However, it's important to balance this depth with other methods like surveys or observations to ensure a well-rounded understanding of social dynamics.

Related terms

Qualitative Research: A research method focused on understanding human behavior and the reasons behind it through collecting non-numerical data, often involving interviews or open-ended questions.

Performance Ethnography:

A research approach that combines ethnographic methods with performance analysis to study how cultural performances shape social interactions and identities.

Social Stratification: The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society based on factors such as wealth, income, race, education, and power, influencing access to resources and opportunities.