An Interview Guide and Analyse the Data - Essay Example

Lecturer: Research in social science-Develop an Interview Guide and Analyse the Data The main themes emerging from the interviews The main themes that emerge from the interviews include awareness and understanding, management of online behavior, ethics of social media research as the quality of social media research. As far as data ownership and understanding is concerned, data ownership and online privacy are the main aspects that emerge. The interviews revealed that most of the respondents are aware that once they have uploaded their data to the social media sites, they no longer own that data as it is in the public domain or is held in the platforms servers. There are also aware that online privacy depends on the privacy settings they chose for their profiles where they have the option of allowing everyone to access it or restricting it to specific people. In terms of management of online behavior, it emerges that different people use different social media sites for different reasons including socialization, work and other interests including business and marketing. The type of information that is shared on social media sites also merges from the theme associated with management of online behavior with most of the information being uploaded being text, followed by photos and videos. The management of online behavior is dependent on the degree to which they can be identifiable as well as the personal sensitivity of the information to the people who upload this information. There are also concerns about how the information that is uploaded on to the social media sites is managed since it has a capacity to affect the reputation and professions of the people who upload this information. This information can also be used for criminal activities if it is not managed in the best way including identity theft, fraudulent activities and online stalking among other forms of crime. In this context, the aspects of ethic also come out, as the people taking part in the interviews would prefer to remain anonymous after giving their consent to taking part in the research. Lastly, another emergent theme is concerned with the quality of social media research that involve the criticisms concerning the rigor with which it is carried out and the fact that the online environment prefers extreme perceptions. The research should keep in mind that online personas are usually inflated or refined so that the people using the social media platforms can get more followers and responses to their updates and photos. This can lead to data that is of insufficient quality as well as an inadequate depiction of the results that will emerge from this data. Rationale for determining the set of questions In determining the questions that will be used in the interview involves initially deciding what information needs to be collected. Patton’s six types of questions that are associated with various aspects including behavior or experiences, perceptions, awareness, sensory, opinions as well as demographics or background may be important in developing these questions (Brown 30). Founded on this list, I was able to come up with the information that I needed to collect through the interviews to be conducted after which I framed the questions around this information while considering the possible answers that might be received in order to prepare any follow up questions. Some background research on the history and experiences of the people to be interviewed was also helpful in assist me to come up develop the questions for the interviews and forecasting the responses that they would give (Maykut and Morehouse 86). In the process of conducting research on the respondents, I tried to understand what their interests were as well as their occupation and hobbies. While developing the questions, I also tried to make sure that I do not come up with questions that will get simple yes or no responses. Rather, I tried to make sure that the questions created were open ended in order to give the responses a chance to express their views in a free manner. Additionally, pointed questions were developed when the respondents were supposed to respond with facts and direct opinions. I tried my best to make sure that the wording of the questions was structured in such a way that they do not influence the responses or become judgmental to the respondents. At the end of the interview, I tried to leave some room for a general question so that the respondents could be able to share their views and opinions concerning how social networking sites represent an important part of student life. Experience of conducting a qualitative interview Conducting qualitative interviews has its share of advantages and disadvantages depending on the perspective they are considered from. In most of the cases, focus groups are considered when thinking of qualitative research and group dynamics are sometimes be significant to measure but interviews are generally superior. One of the advantages of using interviews in the collection of qualitative data is that they have less bias associated with the participants or the observer (Shafir 43). When considering focus groups, even trained moderators may experience some bias while constituting the members of the groups. People typically know each other in associations and this may result in conscious or subconscious affectation or suppression of some of the responses. Groups may appear to have independent participants but some factors differentiate them when they get into a room. For the case of interviewing, members seldom attempt to develop good impressions on the person conducting the interviews as they only try to be clear and understood. Interviewing also has an inherent flexibility and even though some rapport and communications may be lost, this mode of data collection is cost effective while enabling the interviewer to efficiently conduct the interviews and reschedule the interviews for the people who miss their appointments (Seidman 26). Interviews also enable the interviewers to design surveys that are founded on assumptions concerning what matters and originating from internal management views, last survey questions and better ideas that were developed by other consultants. Nonetheless, it is more difficult to get honest views on current issues, which concern people greatly, and conducting interviews as components of the process of developing the survey assists in providing timely observations, unconfirmed hypotheses and any possible hidden links between perceptions and conduct that may be quantified in the survey. Interviews give the respondents adequate time to give their responses and provide feedback to the questions they are asked. Interviews are also intimate as they make it easier for the interviewer to ask questions concerning the inner feelings of the respondents as they make it easier. In most of the cases, the respondents to the interviews prefer to be asked about their personal feelings and they make time to speak with the interviewer rewarding him with candour. Even though the opinions of the respondents may not be those that the interviewer wants to hear, playing the role of an impartial outsider is important in making the process become better. It is important for the interviewer to make the respondents aware that he or she is working as an independent researcher and not take any sides or influence the responses of the respondents through comments or the structure of the questions. Another advantage associated with the use of interviews in the collection of quantitative data is that they are relatively inexpensive and easy to interpret. Conducting interviews requires a person to be a good listener and note-taker while having adequate statistical knowledge for proper interpretation. Interviews can be launched easily in real time and it is easy to share reports that result from the interviews with other stakeholders in the research in the shortest time possible for the projects that are time sensitive. However, the use of interviews in collection of qualitative data also has a fair share of associated disadvantages and limitations including the fact that this form of data collection misses objectivity. It is possible that they observer might develop a bias in almost all the forms of quantitative research. For instance, in the individual s conducting the interviews are service providers with no ability to maintain objectivity within and outside, the respondents will not be willing to divulge the entire truth or the interpretation may not reflect the views of the respondents. Interviews can also elicit negative reactions and the interviewers need to be prepared to accept the responses they get regardless of whether it is pleasant on not. During the process of conducting the interviews, it is important to create a balance between sudden keen interests in valid methodologies with urgent needs to validate the results. Therefore, the interviewer should attempt to ensure that they create an atmosphere where the respondents react to the questions without feeling intimidated or irritated by the manner in which they are asked the questions. Another limitation or weakness of using interviews for collection of qualitative data is the fact that deviation as well as lack of standardization in all the interviews can be a positive or negative aspect. Attempting to make interviews arrive at a certain consensus or qualifying them may lead to disappointments for the interviewer as pushing for consensus will force the interviews to do things they do not do well. It is important to acknowledge this weakness and consider the expectations of the respondents before the interviews have taken place. Works cited Brown, James Dean. Using Surveys In Language Programs. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Print. Maykut, Pamela S, and Richard Morehouse. Beginning Qualitative Research. London: Falmer Press, 1994. Print. Seidman, Irving. Interviewing As Qualitative Research. New York: Teachers College Press, 2013. Print. Shafir, Eldar. The Behavioral Foundations Of Public Policy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013. Print. Read More