Interaction and the Standardized Survey Interview: The Living Questionnaire - Hardcover

Houtkoop-Steenstra, Hanneke

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521662028 ISBN 13: 9780521662024

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2000

Synopsis

This study investigates in detail the interaction between interviewers and respondents in standardised social survey interviews. Applying the techniques of conversation analysis, Hanneke Houtkoop-Steenstra reveals how certain rules of normal conversation fail to apply in interviews based on a standard questionnaire, and offers original empirical evidence to show what really happens. Her book demonstrates that interview results can only be understood as products of the contingencies of the interview situation, and not, as is usually assumed, the unmediated expressions of respondents' real opinions. Her conclusions have important implications for anyone interested in effective survey compilation and interpretation. The book is highly accessible, setting out the basic tools of conversation analysis simply and clearly, and suggesting ways of improving questionnaire design wherever possible. Its approach will be of great interest to students and researchers of survey methodology.

About this title

Review

'Conversation Analysis has some important contributions to make to those who want to learn how to do survey interviews better.' APA Review of Books

Book Description

This book investigates the interaction between interviewers and respondents in standardised survey interviews. Using conversation analysis techniques, it reveals how normal conversational rules fail to apply in form-based interviews, and offers original empirical evidence to show what really happens. Its conclusions have profound implications for effective survey compilation and interpretation.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521662028
• ISBN 13: 9780521662024
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224