Interview, including a. structured b. semi-structured c. unstructured

The idea

An interview is a self-report method where a researcher asks participants questions directly. A structured interview uses a predetermined set of questions in a fixed order, making it easy to replicate but lacking flexibility. An unstructured interview resembles a guided conversation with no set questions, allowing the researcher to explore responses in depth, though it is harder to analyse. A semi-structured interview combines both approaches, using a list of set questions but allowing the interviewer to ask follow-up questions.

For example: A psychologist might use a semi-structured interview to cover specific topics while allowing the participant to elaborate on their experiences, balancing reliability with rich qualitative data.

What earns the marks

• Define a structured interview as having predetermined questions asked in a fixed order.
• Define an unstructured interview as having no set questions, allowing for a free-flowing conversation.
• Define a semi-structured interview as having a set of core questions but allowing for flexible follow-up questions.
• Evaluate structured interviews as being higher in reliability but lower in validity compared to unstructured interviews.
• Evaluate unstructured interviews as producing rich qualitative data but being difficult to replicate and analyse.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing structured interviews with questionnaires.

  Put it right: While both use predetermined questions, structured interviews are conducted verbally by an interviewer, whereas questionnaires are typically completed in writing by the participant.

• Assuming unstructured interviews have no focus at all.

  Put it right: Unstructured interviews still have a general research topic or aim, even though the specific questions are not predetermined.

• Stating that semi-structured interviews only use closed questions.

  Put it right: Semi-structured interviews typically use a mix of open and closed questions, and the follow-up questions are usually open-ended to gather more detail.

Exam tips

• When evaluating interviews, link the type of structure to the type of data produced (for example, structured often yields quantitative data, unstructured yields qualitative).
• Use the concept of interviewer bias as a potential weakness for all types of interviews, especially unstructured ones.
• Be ready to select the most appropriate type of interview for a given research scenario and justify your choice.