Interviews

• Questioning skills in unstructured interviews:

  • Be aware of questions that have already been asked and avoid repeating them.
  • Avoid pushing too much and asking why too often.
  • Ask clear questions so the person being interviewed isn't confused and so it is easier for the interviewer to analyse the data accurately.
• Non verbal communication:

  • Sitting with arms crossed, flowing with disapproval and disinterest -> Discourages respondents to speak
  • Nodding and leaning forward -> Encourages respondents to speak.
• The presence of an interviewer who is interested in the respondents answers may increase the amount of information provided, even in an unstructured interview.
• Questions should be standardised (same for everyone) as it helps avoid interviewer bias but is only achievable in structured interviews.
• The interviewer may make notes although this may interfere with their listening skills.

  Alternatively, interviews may be audio recorded or video recorded.
• Unstructured Interview - Strengths:

  • More detailed information can be obtained
• Unstructured Interview - Weaknesses:

  • Required interviewer with more skills because the interviewer has to develop more questions.
  • Questions may lack objectivity due to the quick nature of creating the questions.
  • More expensive due to the need for an experienced interviewer.
  • Social desirability may be an issue.
  • Interviewer bias.
• Unstructured Interview:

  • New questions are developed during the interview.
  • Interview may begin with general aims and possibly a few pre-determined questions.
• Structured Interview:

  • Has pre-determined questions
  • Interviewer cannot deviate from original questions (cannot change questions or ask follow up questions).
• Structured Interview - Strengths:

  • Can be easily repeated because the questions are standardised - Higher reliability.
  • Different people can be compared due to the standardised questions.
  • Answers are easier to analyse due to being predictable.
• Structured Interview - Weaknesses:

  • Comparability can be difficult if the interviewer behaves differently or if there is a different interviewer for different people.
  • Interviewer bias.
  • Social desirability may be an issue.
• Semi-Structured Interview:

  • Involves a mixture of structured and unstructured questions.
  • Usually starts with a list of questions but the interviewer can ask follow up questions to the participant's answers.