Sociology 2206A/B Lecture Notes - Domestic Violence, Social Desirability Bias, Laziness

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 2206A/B
• Professor: Georgios Fthenos

Document Summary

Interview schedule: a formal list of questions that the interviewer must follow in detail: questions must be asked in order given. Real variation : variation related to the interviewer or the interviewing process is variability due to error. Structured interviews have to deal with interviewer effects: the characteristics of the interviewers may influence response given. Issues like race, class, sex are key reactive issues, homeless citizens. Interview contexts of structured interviews: usually one interviewer is designated for a research project, even with focus groups where there are several interviewees, this may be due to cost, reduces inter- interviewer variability, avoids distraction, reduces misunderstanding. Not many social cues; cannot actually see persons face: difficult to be sure targeted respondent is the person actually answering the questionnaire, visual aids cannot be used to assist the interview. Conducting interviews: basic points: schedule: interviewees should be familiar with the interview schedule.