As noted earlier, one solution to this quandary was the development of structured interviews. Data preparation and analysis is end loaded compared with, for instance, questionnaires, which are preceded and where data are ready for analysis once they have collected. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of a semistructured interview. Structured interviews are typically used in surveys see our survey research methods tip sheet for more information. A semi structured interview is a method of research used most often in the social sciences. Recording semistructured interviews typically, the interviewer has a paperbased interview guide that he or she follows. There are however, a number of disadvantages to consider before attempting an interview using the semistructured method. This quiz and worksheet can help check your knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of unstructured interviews. Finally the bottom line is that at the end of the discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of group interviews, one can clearly understand the purpose of. This method typically consists of a dialogue between researcher and participant, guided by a flexible interview protocol and supplemented by followup questions, probes and comments. Thus, interviews can be done face to face or by telephone.
Analysis of data can be difficult and time consuming. Structured and semistructured interviews request pdf. Semistructured interview topics psychology tutor2u. Semistructured indepth interviews are commonly used in qualitative research and are the most frequent qualitative data source in health services research. This combination provides data that can be used to make projections about the entire population from which the sample was drawn.
Structured interview questions are the most common type used in surveying interviewing. Despite the disadvantages and costs of ssis, they offer some extraordinary benefits as well. The advantages and disadvantages of structured interviews. Semi structured interviews are a widely used technique in development research. While a structured interview has a rigorous set of questions which does not allow one to divert, a semistructured interview is open, allowing new ideas to be brought up during the interview as a result of what the interviewee says.
Personal touch builds a relationship is the most significant advantages of interviews. A great deal of qualitative research uses semi structured interview material. The questions are asked in a set standardized order and the interviewer will not deviate from the interview schedule or probe beyond the answers received so they are not flexible. The pdf file you selected should load here if your web browser has a pdf reader plugin installed for example, a recent version of adobe acrobat reader if you would like more information about how to print, save, and work with pdfs, highwire press provides a helpful frequently asked questions about pdfs alternatively, you can download the pdf file directly to your computer, from where it. As cyberspace is defined as the noplace morse, 1998, communication in a virtual place brings. Since semi structured interviews often contain openened questions and discussions may diverge from the interview guide, it is generally best to taperecord interviews and later transcript these tapes for analysis. Semistructured interview is a type of interview in which some questions are predetermined and others arise spontaneously during conversation. Structured interviews could be considered researcherguided interviews. This paper explores some of the joys and challenges associated with research interviewing. Albeit the disadvantages accompanied with semi structured interviews as a method of data collection, they were selected in this study due to the fact that they offer convenience in data collection cohen and crabtree, 2006. The purpose of this structured interviewing guide is to provide an overview of a methodology for the development and administration of structured interviews. To achieve optimum use of interview time, interview guides serve the useful purpose of exploring many respondents more systematically and comprehensively as well as to keep. Semistructured interviews are based on semistructured interview guide, which is a schematic presentation of questions or topics and need to be explored by the interviewer. Semi structured interviews are useful when collecting attitudinal information on a.
Semistructured interviews are particularly useful for collecting information. Facetoface interviews have long been the dominant interview technique in the field of qualitative research. Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in qualitative research place. Semistructured interviews are a widely used technique in development research. Structured and semistructured interviews sciencedirect. Unlike formal interviews, which follow a rigid format of set questions, semistructured interviews focus on specific themes but cover them in a conversational style. As a result, i chose semistructured interview as the method i would try out for this assignment. Name of method focused semistructured interviews brief outline of method this technique is used to collect qualitative data by setting up a situation the interview that allows a respondent the time and scope to talk about their opinions on a particular subject. Jun 20, 2019 structured interviews could be considered researcherguided interviews. In an interview, the openended questions obtain several advantages. Semistructured interviews, by contrast, are researcher proctored. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of a semi structured interview.
Structured interviews are conducted with the prestructured set of questions. Hannah creane follows on from this, stating that a semistructured interview, would allow me to gain the research i wanted without pigeonholing the response of those i was interviewing bryman, 2008, p. Semi structured interviewing is an important tool for gathering data in qualitative research. Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in qualitative research. Choosing between an interview and a self completed questionnaire on which the respondent writes their answers is an important decision. The interviewer in a semistructured interview generally has a framework. Semistructured interviews contain mostly prepared questions that can be supplemented with additional questions. Therefore, it is quite possible that the group interviews comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Apr 10, 2017 difference between structured and unstructured interview structured interview. It provides fundamental information as well as advice to help hiring managers and human resources hr. Ftf interviews, telephone interviews, msn messenger interviews, and email interviews. The focus of this article is concentrated on the ways in which the four interview techniques differ from each other, thus highlighting the advantages and disadvantages. Seven 7 disadvantages of interview as data collection. This paper presents a systematic mixedmethods modeldatalinked nested studiesfor sampling respondents for semi structured interviews from survey or census lists. Semi structured interviews are conducted with a fairly open framework which allows focused, conversational, twoway communication. Semistructured interviews semistructured interviews involve a series of openended questions based on the topic areas the researcher wants to cover. Pdf the joys and challenges of semistructured interviewing. The openended nature of the question defines the topic under investigation but provides opportunities for both interviewer and interviewee to discuss some topics in more detail.
Using interviews in a research project simmons university. Rationale and procedures for nesting semi structured. One could argue that msn messenger and telephone interviews are characterised by synchronous communication in cyberspace. Semistructured interviewing in primary care research. Feb 08, 2018 semi structured interview is a type of interview in which some questions are predetermined and others arise spontaneously during conversation. Qualitative research methodinterviewing and observation.
Semistructured interviews and focus groups margaret c. Clinicians and researchers had tremendous difficulty in making consistent and accurate diagnoses of mental disorders with unstructured clinical interviews. Apr 24, 2016 from the interviewers perspective, the greatest advantage is the possibility of catching the interviewee in an unscripted moment for which she is unprepared. The interviewers is thus free to leave certain questions out, mix the order of questions. Forthright and frank in his comments about the limitations and practical implications of varying choices which investigators have to make in designing their research projects.
In this article four types of interview techniques will be compared. Semi structured interviews and focus groups margaret c. Similarly, those who conduct and analyse data primarily from semi structured interviews or focus groups can benefit from information provided by survey research. Semistructured interviews center around a mixed framework of general themes and preestablished questions, which can be adapted in the context of individual sessions. Semi structured interviews semi structured interviews involve a series of openended questions based on the topic areas the researcher wants to cover. Conducting semistructured interviews 493 the name that appears to be currently garnering a majority of usage is not crisp, clever, or inventive but it is simple and descriptive. A semistructured interview is a method of research used most often in the social sciences. Semi structured interviews are based on semi structured interview guide, which is a schematic presentation of questions or topics and need to be explored by the interviewer. Semistructured interviews are best applied when you will not get more than one chance to interview someone and when you will be sending several interviewers out into the field to collect data. Semistructured interviews sit halfway between a structured survey and an unstructured conversation. In the last two decades, telephone interviewing became more and more common.
Not all questions are designed and phrased ahead of time. Group interviews interviews can be conducted either one to one individual interviews or in a a group, in which the interviewer interviews two or more respondents at a. Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in. Semistructured interviews are useful when collecting attitudinal information on a. For a study in the domain of virtual teams, i used various communication possibilities to interview informants as well as facetoface interviews. It just might provide a glimpse of the real you, and not just the facede you want the i. From the interviewers perspective, the greatest advantage is the possibility of catching the interviewee in an unscripted moment for which she is unprepared. Advantages and disadvantages of interviews as a research method advantages disadvantages structured interview allows researcher to prompt interviewee by providing a set of example responses has the potential to be quick and easy to conduct speci. There are some advantages and disadvantages of interviews which are mention below.
Finally the bottom line is that at the end of the discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of group interviews, one can clearly understand the purpose of the group interviews. Bradley th is course provides an overview of two types of qualitative data collection methodologies. The advantages and disadvantages of each method will be dealt with, briefly. This is also known as a formal interview like a job interview. Structured and unstructured interviews simply psychology. Group interviews advantages and disadvantages wisestep. Within these there are also choices to be made, each with advantages or disadvantages. Jan 23, 2016 semistructured interviews are those in which respondents have a list of questions, but they are free to ask further, differentiated questions based on the responses given. Difference between structured and unstructured interviews.
Semi structured interviews sit halfway between a structured survey and an unstructured conversation. Difference between structured and unstructured interview structured interview. In these interviews, how the information is accessed can be considered as important or more important than the information that is given. Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques.
The interviewer can conduct these interviews face to face with the respondents or on the telephone. Semi structured interviews center around a mixed framework of general themes and preestablished questions, which can be adapted in the context of individual sessions. They are often the best way for learning about the. The semistructured interview guide provides a clear set of instructions for interviewers and can provide reliable, comparable qualitative data. Structured, unstructured and semistructured job interviews. Th ese techniques are commonly used in policy research and are applicable to many research questions.
Unlike formal interviews, which follow a rigid format of set questions, semi structured interviews focus on specific themes but cover them in a conversational style. Semistructured interviews are conducted with a fairly open framework which allows focused, conversational, twoway communication. Recording semi structured interviews typically, the interviewer has a paperbased interview guide that he or she follows. However, they are frequently used to generate quantitative rather semistructured interviews. Disadvantages of interviews as data collection tool in research are. It provides fundamental information as well as advice to help hiring managers and human resources hr specialists get the most out of structured interviews. The interviewer follows a guideline but is able to follow topical trajectories in the conversation that may stray from the guide when it seems appropriate. While a structured interview has a rigorous set of questions which does not allow one to divert, a semi structured interview is open, allowing new ideas to be brought up during the interview as a result of what the interviewee says.
In these cases, the researcher will ask the participant specific questions that demand a short response. The interviewers is thus free to leave certain questions out, mix the order of questions, or ask certain standard questions in different ways depending on context. In a semistructured interview, the interviewer uses a set of predetermined questions and the respondents answer in their own words. Semi structured interviews are particularly useful for collecting information. Benefits of the semistructured interview the primary advantage of indepth interviews is that they provide much more detailed information than what is available through other data collection methods, such as surveys. The transcribing and coding of interview data is a major task for the. Structured interviews use a questionnaire format with closed questions and can be beneficial, particularly when participants have either a speech or language impairment. Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in qualitative research raymond opdenakker abstract. These are based on structured, closedended questions. What are the advantages of unstructured interviews.
In the last two decades, telephone interviewing became more and more com. Since semistructured interviews often contain openened questions and discussions may diverge from the interview guide, it is generally best to taperecord interviews and later transcript these tapes for analysis. Seven 7 disadvantages of interview as data collection tool. You will also be presented questions that ask you to identify types of interviews. Oral interview vivavoice gives an opportunity for personal interaction between interviewer and interviewee. Click on any of the buttons here for a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the methods. The method allows the researcher to collect openended. This chapter begins with a discussion on the disadvantages and advantages of ssis.
A structured interview is an interview that has a set of predefined questions and the questions would be asked in the same order for all respondents. Structured interviews and other forms of structured data collection, such as the selfadministered questionnaire are often used in conjunction with a design that employs statistical sampling. Using structured interviewing techniques gaopemd10. Albeit the disadvantages accompanied with semistructured interviews as a method of data collection, they were selected in this study due to the fact that they offer convenience in data collection cohen and crabtree, 2006. Structured and semistructured interviews developed in the 1970s to address an important problem in the mental health field.
261 100 1483 790 6 457 1197 818 1141 272 908 1349 1115 1139 430 1103 1074 890 1456 853 912 144 948 501 202 318 986 380 1062 112 715 293 957 805 799 1076 1154 1519 270 778 927 567 57 1333 1103 238 570 1004