UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

Question 1

Definition: Unstructured interviews

interpretivists

Answer 1

More informal, open-ended, flexible and free-flowing interview; researchers will have certain topics that they wish to cover with no set questions.

Question 2

PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES

Answer 2

• interviewer able to explain and clarify questions if they do not understand
• high flexibility

Question 3

PRACTICAL DISADVANTAGES

Answer 3

• time-consuming (often takes several; hours for in-depth explorations)
• training needs to be more thorough - expensive/time
• need good interpersonal skills - to build rapport with interviewee
• hard to quantify as answers are opinions

Question 4

THEORETICAL ADVANTAGES

Answer 4

• suited to discovering meanings, values, opinions and beliefs (qualitative data)
• able to build a rapport and trust - allows access to sensitive groups and topics (e.g. investigating DV by showing empathy and encouragement to the interviewee)
• allows the interviewee to speak about what they think is most important - no set questions; more validity

Question 5

THEORETICAL DISADVANTAGES

Answer 5

• too time-consuming to interview many people; lack of representation
• not reliable as they are not standardised (cannot repeat interview)
• interviewer’s interaction may be biased and distort the data by encouraging a certain answer - lack validity

Question 6

ETHICAL ADVANTAGES

Answer 6

(adv. ):
- easy to consent with interviewee
- able to talk able sensitive topics in the right manner