Semi Structured Interviews

• Interview


  Interviewer has some pre-set questions and some flexibility
• Types of data


  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Qualitative
  • Quantitative
  • Reliable
  • Valid
• Why would a sociologist use this method?

  • Combines the strengths of both structured and unstructured interviews
  • Allows sociologists to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data
  • Produces findings which are both reliable and valid
• Limitations of this method

  • Sociologists need to be well trained as a part of the interview will be flexible and the researcher will need to know how to adapt
  • The researcher will also need to be skilled in both positivist and interpretivist methodologies in order to analyse both sets of data