Interviews

Question 1

Interviews

Answer 1

Conversations between a researcher and a respondent about a certain topic of interest.

Question 2

Structured Interviews

Answer 2

Interviews in which the interviewer asks the interviewee the same questions in the same way to different respondents.
Often have a list of questions

Question 3

Strengths of Structured Interviews

Answer 3

-Quantitative data (closed questions, fixed choice, tick boxes), easy to convert into tables and analyse
-Conducted quickly (practical)
-Better response rates than questionnaires
-High reliability

Question 4

Weakness of Structured Interviews

Answer 4

-Low validity
-Interviewer bias
-Fail to engage with people’s attitudes and experiences (interpretivist)
-Answers given may not reflect the answers given

Question 5

Unstructured Interviews

Answer 5

Interviews are more like a guided conversation. Questions have no set order or answer. In depth, non standardised

Question 6

Strengths of Unstructured Interviews

Answer 6

-Created a rapport (relationship) with the respondents (more likely to get more accurate data).
-Qualitative data
-Flexible
-Participants more likely to open up and say what they really feel

Question 7

Weaknesses of Unstructured Interviews

Answer 7

-Collects too much data so they have to be selective with what data they use. Could lead to researchers only selecting data supporting their views (researcher bias) leading to invalid results and conclusions.
-Data long answer, written so difficult to analyse
-Time consuming (practical)

Question 8

Semi-structured Interviews

Answer 8

Interviewers combine a set of open ended and close ended questions with the ability to explore specific themes or responses in more depth. Often used both structured and unstructured

Question 9

Strengths of Semi-structured Interviews

Answer 9

-Qualitative data
-Questions can be prepared ahead of time whilst also including follow up questions to add detail and kn depth answers to the research
-Rapport

Question 10

Weaknesses of Semi-structured Interviews

Answer 10

-Time consuming
-Low reliability
-Require an interviewer with the right training to conduct the interview

Question 11

Group Interviews

Answer 11

The interviewer interviews two or more respondents at the same time