LT5. Informal Interviews 2

• Why are informal interviews considered time-consuming?

  They typically last several hours
• What type of questions are typically asked in informal interviews?

  Open-ended questions
• Why should extra time be given when interviewing young students?

  They may not understand questions
• What issue may arise with teachers during informal interviews?

  They may be overworked and less helpful
• What is a challenge in analyzing qualitative data from informal interviews?

  Transcripts must be written and analyzed
• What is required for training interviewers for informal interviews?

  More training than for structured interviews
• What is a cost associated with informal interviews?

  Training researchers can be costly
• What concern might head teachers have regarding research findings?

  Negative publicity for the school
• What is a challenge in accessing certain groups for interviews?

  They may be in protected environments
• What must researchers avoid to protect interviewees?

  Exploitation and creating distress
• What must participants be aware of in informed consent?

  Aims, procedure, and implications of research
• What are the advantages of group informal interviews?

  • Participants feel more comfortable
  • Power dynamics are reduced
  • More valid findings are likely
• What are the disadvantages of group informal interviews?

  • Some participants may dominate
  • Peer pressure may influence responses
  • Requires skilled researchers to manage
• What are the characteristics of semi-structured interviews?

  • Questions are broadly set out
  • Flexibility to change question order
  • Can produce both qualitative and quantitative data
• How do semi-structured interviews compare to unstructured interviews in terms of reliability?

  They are more reliable due to standardization
• Why are semi-structured interviews considered more valid than structured interviews?

  They allow participants to elaborate on answers