Unstructured interviews

• Qualitative research methods like unstructured interviews are designed to allow a free and open conversation, with set topics to be explored but no set questions
• Unstructured interviews are a response to the respondent, with no set questions
• Interpretivists use qualitative methods/approaches to understand the meanings individuals attach to behaviour
• Qualitative data is produced through unstructured interviews
• Unstructured interviews

  • build up rapport
  • can cover more sensitive/unusual topics
  • Boundaries between researcher and participant can become blurred
• Unstructured interview studies

  • Dobash and Dobash - Violence Against Wives
  • Becker - Becoming a Marijuana User
  • Oakley - From Here to Maternity
• Dobash and Dobash's unstructured interviews

  Allowed more genuine two-way interaction and development of trust and rapport, gaining deeper and more valid insights into respondents' viewpoints and the meanings/motives behind the abuse
• Becker's unstructured interviews allowed him to explore the whole 'deviant career' of marijuana users in depth, from first trying the drug to becoming regular users
• Oakley's unstructured interviews with 55 women before and after having a baby allowed the participants to lead the conversation and share their own interpretations, rather than Oakley's views dominating
• Oakley's research was criticised for causing harm due to the sensitive nature of the topic and the vulnerability of the participants at that time in their lives
• Some participants stated that being interviewed by Oakley and involved in the research had influenced their experience of motherhood