Question 1

The main difference between standardized interviews and in-depth interviews is ________.
A) standardized interviews are usually emergent in nature, while in-depth interviews are conducted both in person and over the telephone
B) standardized interviews involve a script, while in-depth interviews involve directed conversation
C) standardized interviews are typically short, while in-depth interviews are typically lengthy
D) standardized interviews are only used by quantitative researchers while in-depth interviews are only used by qualitative researchers

Accepted Answer

Standardized interviews follow a specific set of questions or a script to ensure consistency across interviews, allowing for easier comparison of responses. In-depth interviews, on the other hand, involve a more flexible, directed conversation that allows the interviewer to explore topics more deeply based on the respondent's answers, adapting questions as needed to gather comprehensive insights.

Question 2

Standardized interviews are most useful when ________.
A) the researcher wants unambiguous information and knows what she or he wants to uncover
B) the researcher is dealing with a topic that is too difficult to probe using an in-depth interview
C) the researcher wants to collect initial data that can then lead to a more in-depth interview process
D) the researcher does not wish to extrapolate her findings to the general population

Accepted Answer

Standardized interviews are most useful when the researcher wants unambiguous information and knows exactly what they are looking to uncover. This method allows for direct comparisons between different respondents because the same questions are asked in the same way to everyone.

Question 3

The textbook notes that when a person in a position of power (prison warden, nursing home supervisor) gives you access to interview participants, it is ________.
A) a researcher's dream come true
B) problematic from a research ethics standpoint as it may be challenging to ensure that participants are representative of the population you are studying
C) problematic from a research ethics standpoint as it may be challenging to ensure that participants are involved voluntarily; also, participants may not believe you are able to maintain confidentiality
D) problematic from a methodological perspective as this represents a non-random sample

Accepted Answer

When a person in power grants access to participants, it raises ethical concerns about voluntary participation and confidentiality, as participants may feel coerced or doubt the researcher's ability to protect their privacy.

Question 4

The purpose of in-depth interviews is to ________.
A) uncover the hidden truths that regulate everyday interactions
B) uncover the status hierarchies that structure social groups
C) allow people to explain their experience, attitudes, feelings, and definitions of the situation in their own terms
D) fill in the gaps that standardized interviews inevitably miss

Accepted Answer

In-depth interviews are designed to allow individuals to express their experiences, attitudes, feelings, and personal interpretations of situations in their own words, providing a rich, detailed understanding of the interviewee's perspective.

Question 5

The example in the textbook about planning to start an interview with the question "How did you happen to become a vegetarian?" illustrates that ________.
A) the researcher should never ask personal questions
B) being sneaky with the ordering of questions keeps respondents "on their toes"
C) the importance of asking questions that respondents must answer
D) this approach can lead to the generation of an interview guide

Accepted Answer

This approach illustrates how starting with a specific, open-ended question can help in generating further questions and structuring the conversation, leading to the development of an interview guide.

Question 6

According to Elaine Brody, "organized listening" is important because ________.
A) it helps identify ideas or potentially important concepts to ask about in subsequent questions
B) it helps the interviewer control the discussion
C) it allows the interview to keep on track and avoid lapsing into informal "chat"
D) it affords the interviewer the opportunity to observe body language that might contain important clues to whether the interviewee is being honest

Accepted Answer

Organized listening is crucial as it enables the interviewer to pinpoint significant ideas or concepts that could be explored further through follow-up questions, enhancing the depth and relevance of the interview.

Question 7

In-depth interviews are characterized as ________ because they involve an interactional process whereby the interviewer listens not only to what is said but also to how it is said.
A) adversarial
B) active
C) uni-directional
D) hierarchical

Accepted Answer

In-depth interviews are considered "active" because they require the interviewer to engage actively with the interviewee, paying attention to both the content and the manner of the responses, which involves listening, interpreting, and reacting in real-time.

Question 8

By listening to what is said, how it is said, and understanding that the interview is a social process, a researcher can take into account ________.
A) the importance of the strategies used both by the interviewer and by the participant
B) the adjustments participants make in their responses to hide their true feelings
C) the ways in which she might be "leading" the participant to make certain statements
D) the role of the interviewee in the group he is a part of

Accepted Answer

Understanding the interview as a social process involves recognizing the strategies used by both the interviewer and the participant, which can influence the dynamics and outcomes of the interview.

Question 9

Qualitative researchers interview participants ________.
A) who will confirm the researcher's theory
B) who can provide data that are generalizable to a wider population
C) who can provide the greatest insight into the topic at hand
D) who are selected at random

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research focuses on understanding complex phenomena through the perspectives of those experiencing them. Therefore, participants are chosen for their ability to provide deep insights into the topic being studied, rather than for their ability to confirm a pre-existing theory, represent a wider population, or being selected randomly.

Question 10

Snowball sampling is a method whereby ________.
A) a researcher goes to the desired research setting and selects participants at random
B) research participants are selected during the winter months
C) initial participants guide the researcher to other potential participants
D) a researcher begins with a large, ambiguous sample, which eventually shrinks through the use of standardized surveys that have "qualifying" questions

Accepted Answer

Snowball sampling is a method where initial participants recommend or guide the researcher to other potential participants, often used in studies where potential participants are hard to find.

Question 11

In their book The Active Interview, Holstein and Gubrium noted that because interviews allow us to "reveal both the substance and the process of meaning making," researchers ________.
A) should conduct interviews in teams of three (one to ask questions, one to observe the interviewer, and one to observe the interviewee)
B) can view the interview process itself as a source of data
C) need to decide which one they will focus on
D) need to refrain from making comments about the interviewees

Accepted Answer

Interviews are seen as valuable by Holstein and Gubrium not just for the content they generate but also for the insights they provide into how meanings are constructed during the interview process itself. This perspective allows researchers to analyze the dynamics of the interview as part of their data collection.

Question 12

While there are many complexities in the process of sampling and accessing participants, the author notes that two recognized elements about social research are that ________ and ________ tend to be more willing participants.
A) working class men; youth
B) retired persons; women
C) stigmatized groups; politicized groups
D) women; those with higher levels of education

Accepted Answer

Women and those with higher levels of education are often more willing to participate in social research studies, possibly due to higher interest or availability for such engagements.

Question 13

The author notes that the in-depth interview process carries with it a fundamental understanding that ________.
A) the researcher is the expert and only needs some original quotes to support his or her ideas
B) the person who is interviewed is the expert on his or her own lived experience
C) the researcher needs to guide the person who is interviewed to the right answers
D) interviewing is difficult and things go wrong all the time

Accepted Answer

The in-depth interview process is based on the premise that the person being interviewed is considered the expert on their own lived experience, which allows for a rich, detailed understanding of the individual's perspective.

Question 14

Asking a question like "You mentioned that your friends treat you differently since you made the Olympic bobsleigh team. In what ways?" is an example of ________.
A) organized listening
B) active listening
C) a probe
D) following the interview guide

Accepted Answer

A probe is a follow-up question used to gain more information or clarity on a subject.

Question 15

All of the following are topics that interview respondents will be able to answer except ________.
A) their personal background
B) their understanding of the experiences of groups of people like them
C) their factual knowledge of a given topic
D) their political opinions and ideologies

Accepted Answer

B is correct because while respondents can share their personal experiences, perceptions, and opinions, they cannot accurately represent or fully understand the experiences of all people in a group they belong to. Their responses are subjective and limited to their own perspectives.

Question 16

An example of a "double-barrelled" question is ________.
A) "Do you like how the Trudeau Government deals with climate change?"
B) "We know that global warming is a fact. What do you think about remedial action being taken?"
C) "Do you think that the oil companies working in the 'oil sands' are inherently corrupt?"
D) "Do you respect your mother and your father?"

Accepted Answer

A double-barrelled question is one that asks two questions at the same time but allows for only one answer, making it difficult for someone to answer accurately if they feel differently about the two questions. "Do you respect your mother and your father?" is an example because one might respect one parent more than the other.

Question 17

The textbook argues that during an interview, a researcher should not ________.
A) fear pauses
B) stop recording until all questions are answered
C) make physical contact with the participant
D) nod or use informal "talk" such as "hmmm" or "uh-huh"

Accepted Answer

The answer of The textbook argues that during an interview,...

Question 18

An argument the textbook makes for correcting your own transcripts (reading them while listening to the interviews) is ________.
A) it saves the money of hiring your own transcriber (which is often very expensive)
B) you can often save time by finding key sections and focusing on them rather than re-reading the whole interview again
C) you can delete and discard any material you find weak from the interview
D) it allows you to assess your strengths and weaknesses as an interviewer

Accepted Answer

Correcting your own transcripts allows you to reflect on your interviewing skills, identifying areas where you excel and where you might need improvement.

Question 19

When discussing qualitative interviews, researchers prefer to use the term ________ to refer to their written plans
A) guide
B) schedule
C) questionnaire
D) script

Accepted Answer

Researchers prefer to use the term "guide" for their written plans in qualitative interviews, as it suggests a more flexible approach to questioning, allowing for exploration and adaptation based on the interviewee's responses.

Question 20

During an in-depth interview, a researcher will want to use ________.
A) closed-ended questions
B) open-ended questions
C) leading or loaded questions
D) double-barrelled questions

Accepted Answer

Open-ended questions are preferred in in-depth interviews because they allow respondents to provide more detailed and nuanced answers, facilitating a deeper understanding of their perspectives and experiences.

Quiz 6: In-Depth Interviewing

The main difference between standardized interviews and in-depth interviews is ________.

Standardized interviews are most useful when ________.

The textbook notes that when a person in a position of power (prison warden, nursing home supervisor) gives you access to interview participants, it is ________.

The purpose of in-depth interviews is to ________.

The example in the textbook about planning to start an interview with the question "How did you happen to become a vegetarian?" illustrates that ________.

According to Elaine Brody, "organized listening" is important because ________.

In-depth interviews are characterized as ________ because they involve an interactional process whereby the interviewer listens not only to what is said but also to how it is said.

By listening to what is said, how it is said, and understanding that the interview is a social process, a researcher can take into account ________.

Qualitative researchers interview participants ________.

Snowball sampling is a method whereby ________.

In their book The Active Interview, Holstein and Gubrium noted that because interviews allow us to "reveal both the substance and the process of meaning making," researchers ________.

While there are many complexities in the process of sampling and accessing participants, the author notes that two recognized elements about social research are that and tend to be more willing participants.

The author notes that the in-depth interview process carries with it a fundamental understanding that ________.

Asking a question like "You mentioned that your friends treat you differently since you made the Olympic bobsleigh team. In what ways?" is an example of ________.

All of the following are topics that interview respondents will be able to answer except ________.

An example of a "double-barrelled" question is ________.

The textbook argues that during an interview, a researcher should not ________.

An argument the textbook makes for correcting your own transcripts (reading them while listening to the interviews) is ________.

When discussing qualitative interviews, researchers prefer to use the term ________ to refer to their written plans

During an in-depth interview, a researcher will want to use ________.