Interviews

• What are structured interviews? 


  This is when the interviewer Asks the interviews the same questions in the same way to different participants, this usually involves pre-written and pre-coded structured questionnaires
• what are unstructured interviews? 


  more like guided conversation - the interviewer has complete freedom to vary questions from respondents to respondent - usually open ended questions
• what are semi-structured interviews? 


  this is when each interview has the same set fo questions in common, but the interviewer can also probe for more information can ask open ended questions
• what are group interviews? 


  the interviewer interviews two or more participants at the same time
• un-structured interviews 


  It’s a qualitative approach - providing meaningful information o research and findings

  flexible

  questions not pre-set
• what is the PET analysis of un - structured interviews? 


  accurate representation

  more valid

  allows participants comfortability

  more flexible ( less structured )
• structured interviews


  pre set questions

  can produce quantitative data, allowing answers to be compared

  everyone has the same questions
• What is the PET analysis of structured interviews? 


  large samples, more representative - theoretical

  high response rates

  straight forward and inexpensive - practical

  limits validity - theoretical

  easily quantified
• semi-structured interviews


  mixed between quantitative & qualitative data

  interviewer has pre-set questions, but they tend to propose new questions as a result of what the interviewee says
• what’s the PET analysis for semi-structured interviews? 


  added depth - theoretical

  can be both reliable but also valid - theoretical

  flexibility - practical
• What is the PET for interviews overall?

  Practical issues: time -consuming , gaining access ( gatekeepers: headteachers ), personal characteristics

  ethical issues: confidentiality, sensitive topics and using un-structured interviews could trigger something

  theoretical issues: maybe a language barrier between the interviewer and participants - might not understand the question - could decrease the validity of the research