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Interviewer-based data collection is the norm for social and market research surveys in the United Kingdom and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. But what impact do interviewers have on survey resuhs. Interviewers are often seen as valuable allies in the data collection process for their role in minimising many potential sources of survey error (e.g., through motivating the respondent and controlling the response process). Yet, at the same time, interviewers can also be one of the principal causes of nonresponse error and response variance in quantitative surveys. In terms of nonresponse, it is widely known that different interviewers have different response rates, but comparatively little is known about the extent to which this is due to differences among interviewers and their characteristics as opposed to differences among the respondents in those areas allocated to the interviewers. What is also unclear is the extent to which such interviewer differences persist over time in longitudinal surveys, the extent to which interviewers differ in their effectiveness at reducing the refusal as opposed to the non-contact component of nonresponse, and the extent to which the fieldwork strategy of matching the same interviewers to the same respondents, 'interviewer continuity', is useful for raising response rates in longitudinal surveys. In terms of response variance, it is rare to find studies in which both the complex sampling variance and the complex interviewer variance are both computed or in which the effects of interviewer continuity on response quality is examined. This thesis investigates these issues by using the interpenetrated sample design experiment designed by C. O'Muircheartaigh (my supervisor) and myself for implementation in Wave 2 of the British Household Panel Study. The analysis is facilitated by the use of cross-classified multilevel modelling in addition to other techniques. The thesis also looks at the issue of 'interviewer continuity' qualitatively, through the impressions of the interviewers themselves.

Sociologists, unlike economists or psychologists, generally do not perform practical Institutional roles in organized society. Most of them are employed as scholars and lecturers In academla, while only a minority are employed as 'applied sociologists' in business or public organizations; dealing only with narrow questions which interest their employers, which naturally confines them to their employers' perspective. Thus, according to the mainstream literature, their role is essentially technical, acting as 'methodologists', stripped almost entirely from their sociological qualities. However, academic sociologists do not necessarily remain mere producers of pure basic knowledge since a significant number of them have attempted to exert external influence and to advance practical improvements in accord with the findings of and within their fields of studies, which frequently involve engagement with fundamental theoretical questions. Such activities may be termed 'Public Sociology', following mainly C. W. Mills, Herbert Gans and Michael Burawoy. However, the criteria, the boundaries and the qualities of these activities have almost never been examined systematically before. This thesis constitutes an empirical investigation into the qualities of these practical activities among 25 Israeli university scholars with sociological orientation.

Interpretive social science is well established institutionally at universities and research centres. It benefits from this institutional context in terms of prestige, credibility and grants. In comparison with non-interpretive disciplines however, its scientific status is questionable. What elements of it are really scientific and what elements are threats to this scientific character? This problem has been discussed in the past but unfortunately the discussion has gradually dried up without a successful resolution. In my thesis I am revitalising it. I take a systematic rather than historical approach: instead of picking up the discussion where it has been abandoned, I begin with a working definition of science, and analyse to what extent interpretive inquiry meets the requirements of this definition. The structure of my thesis follows this definition in that what is discussed is the three substantial elements of it - theory, research method, and professional quality control. In relation to theory, I pose questions on a range of topics, such as whether interpretive social science is explanatory, and whether it generates new knowledge. In relation to method, I explore, amongst other things, whether qualitative method permits the production of valid and reliable findings. The discussion of professional quality control considers issues around the reporting of findings and the assessment of these findings by others. I complement my analysis by considering three interpretive case studies, exploring both whether they produce theoretical knowledge and reflecting on their methodological strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, I explore the border between interpretive inquiry and non-fiction arts, such as literary reportage and documentary filmmaking, arguing that this border is more blurred than it may first appear.

In diesem Artikel rekonstruieren wir vor dem Hintergrund von empirischen Studien, wie die Genese von Pflegetechnologien innovations- und techniksoziologisch funktioniert. Wir zeigen drei Momente in der Technikentwicklung, in denen Pflege und Technologien füreinander ver-fügbar gemacht werden – in der innovationspolitischen Förderung, in der Logik der Technik-entwicklung und mit Blick auf Pflege als soziales Feld. Unsere Analyse zeigt wie mit Pflege-technologien, besonders den Pflegerobotern, von Beginn an mit Lösungsversprechen eines ‚technological fix’ verknüpft sind und wie dies in die Entwicklung von neuen Technologien und in die Pflege hineinwirkt. Wir enden mit einem Gegenvorschlag zur Partizipation und Professi-onalisierung der Pflege, um zu verhindern, dass Technologien, die derzeit unter dem Begriff „Künstliche Intelligenz” diskutiert werden, trotz ihrer diskursiven Verwandtschaft nicht zwangsläufig dasselbe Schicksal erleiden müssen.:Impressum 2 Abstract 3 1 Einleitung 5 2 Wie kommt die K.I. in die Pflege? 7 2.1 Wie werden Pflegetechnologien innovationspolitisch ermöglicht? 7 2.2 Wie wird Pflege verfügbar für Technikentwicklung? 9 2.3 Was bedeutet die Verfügbarmachung für die Pflege? 11 3 Versuch eines Gegenentwurfs 13 3.1 Professionalisierung der Pflege 13 3.2 Partizipative Ansätze und Abschied vom ‚technological fix‘ 15 4 Fazit 17 Literatur 19

What do we do when we realise that others with whom we interact already know something about relevant qualities of ours? Do we relying on the information that we naturally emit to get our message across, or do we take actions to try to change the situation in our favour? And, does the information that we emit, generated intentionally or unintentionally, allow us to cooperate with others and conflict to be resolved peacefully? Drawing on signalling and 'countersignalling' theories, and a recent behavioural theory, I explore these questions using two experiments in which the relevant qualities are trustworthiness and toughness, and observational data from the 1997 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities concerning violence among prisoners. In the experiments, subjects, who do not know what will follow, initially create a natural indicator of their qualities, and subsequently, have the opportunity to send another indicator, this time fully informed. In one experiment, consistent with countersignalling theory, subjects whose generosity is clear deign to send further information, while those whose generosity can be called under question choose to update their initial action the most. In the other, the toughest subjects put the most effort into getting their message across. Consistent among both, senders' actions correspond to receivers' evaluations. Finally, I find that pertinent information can allow conflicts to be resolved successfully; it is linked with less violence in prison and in a laboratory-based contest.