Unstructured Interviews

• Rapport and sensitivity 


  The researcher can develop a rapport with the participant. This is more likely to put the interviewee at ease and encourage them to open up.

  Due to this unstructured interviews are useful for investigating sensitive topics. For example, Dobash and Dobash's study of domestic violence.
• The interviewees view

  No set questions so the interviewee has more opportunity to speak about what they consider important- Dean and Tyler Gooby

  This means that unstructured interviews potentially produce more valid data than structured
• • If the interviewee doesn’t understand the question it can be explained. ​
  • ​If the interviewer doesn’t understand what the interviewees answer means, follow up questions can be asked. ​
• Flexibility


  The interviewer is not restricted by a set list of questions, they can explore what is interesting or relevant.