Interviews Evaluation

Question 1

strengths of structured interviews

Answer 1

• Easy to replicate
  due to the standardised format
  Also the format reduces any differences from interviewers
• require less interviewing skills
• easier to analyse data

Question 2

strengths of unstructured interviews

Answer 2

• responses tend to be more honest (less social desirability)
• Interviewer is more flexible
  can follow up points as they arise
  gaining more insight on the interviewee
• more detailed info

Question 3

weaknesses of structured interviews

Answer 3

• questions may be interpreted in different ways
• reliability may be affected is the same interviewer behaves differently on different occasions
• answers given may not apply/restrict the participant

Question 4

weaknesses of unstructured interviews

Answer 4

• difficult to analyse the data
  sift through irrelevant info
  drawing firm conclusions may be difficult
• different interviewers may ask the same question but in different ways, affecting the reliability of the data
• Interviewers own opinions may influence the interviewees (interviewer bias)
  when making up questions from the spot