Unstructured interview

Question 1

What is an unstructured interview?

Answer 1

Less formal format which does not follow an interview schedule.

Question 2

Features of this method

Answer 2

• No list of standardised questions
• several topics to discuss
• Freedom to ask follow-up questions

Question 3

Where has this format been most notably used?

Answer 3

Within Feminist methodology, to signpost victims and to support networks

Question 4

Benefits

Answer 4

• Allows a rapport to be developed , leading to more informative responses
• Allows empathy to be shown, particularly when dealing with socially sensitive topics
• Interpretivists argue that this enables verstehn and thus validity

Question 5

Drawbacks

Answer 5

• Can lead to a loss of objectivity on the researchers part
• Can be time-consuming
• Can go off-topic
• Difficult to replicate and thus lack reliability

Question 6

Examples

Answer 6

Willis and the lads

Archer and girl gangs