Interviews

• Structured interview:

  • Predetermined questions delivered by an interviewer who does not probe beyond the answers received but may answer questions
• Semi structured interview:

  • Some questions predetermined but also new questions are developed as the interview proceeds.
• Unstructured interview:

  • No questions are decided in advance.
• Positives and negatives of structured interview:

  + can be easily repeated

  + Easier to analyse than unstructured interviews because answers are more predictable.

  • Interviewer's expectations may influence the answers the interviewee gives (this is called researcher/interviewer bias)
• Positives and negatives of semi-structured interview, unstructured:

  + More detailed information can be obtained from each respondent than in a structured interview. Questions are specially shaped to the participant.

  + Can access information that may not be revealed by predetermined questions.

  • More affected by interviewer bias than structured interviews. bECAUSE THE INTERVIEWER IS DEVELOPING QUESTIONS ON THE SPOT and may be prone to issues such as inadvertently asking leading questions.
  • Requires well-trained interviewers, which makes it more expensive.