Semi-structured interview

Definition

A semi-structured interview is a qualitative data collection method that combines pre-determined questions with the flexibility to explore topics in more depth during the conversation. This approach allows the interviewer to guide the discussion while also enabling participants to express their thoughts and feelings freely, making it particularly effective for gathering rich, detailed information in various contexts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Semi-structured interviews are particularly useful in research settings where deeper understanding of participants' perspectives is necessary.
2. These interviews can adapt based on the participant's responses, allowing interviewers to ask follow-up questions for clarification or expansion.
3. They strike a balance between the rigor of structured interviews and the freedom of unstructured ones, making them versatile for various contexts.
4. Data collected from semi-structured interviews can yield both qualitative insights and quantitative data if analyzed systematically.
5. This method is commonly used in fields like psychology, sociology, and market research to explore complex topics where rigid questioning may miss crucial details.

Review Questions

• How does a semi-structured interview balance structure and flexibility in comparison to other types of interviews?
  • A semi-structured interview balances structure and flexibility by incorporating a set list of predetermined questions while also allowing room for follow-up questions and spontaneous dialogue. This approach contrasts with structured interviews that strictly adhere to a question set without deviation and unstructured interviews that rely entirely on open conversation. The semi-structured format enables richer data collection by prompting detailed responses while keeping the conversation focused on key topics.
• Discuss how the design of questions in a semi-structured interview impacts the quality of information gathered from participants.
  • The design of questions in a semi-structured interview plays a critical role in the quality of information gathered. Well-crafted questions can encourage participants to share deeper insights, providing context and detail that may not emerge from rigid questioning. Open-ended questions facilitate discussion, allowing participants to express their views freely while still addressing relevant themes. This thoughtful question design helps ensure that the data collected is both rich and meaningful, ultimately enhancing the analysis.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of semi-structured interviews when interviewing experts or professionals compared to other methods.
  • Semi-structured interviews are particularly effective when interviewing experts or professionals due to their ability to capture nuanced insights that structured methods might overlook. Experts often have extensive knowledge and unique perspectives; thus, the flexibility of semi-structured interviews allows for deeper exploration of their experiences and opinions. This method fosters an engaging dialogue where experts can elaborate on specific points or introduce new ideas, providing richer data than strictly controlled formats could yield. Moreover, these interactions can lead to unexpected insights that inform further research or practice.

Related terms

Structured interview: A structured interview involves asking a set of fixed questions in a specific order, minimizing flexibility for follow-up or additional questions.

Unstructured interview: An unstructured interview is a more informal approach where the interviewer has no specific set of questions and allows the conversation to flow naturally, often leading to open-ended responses.

Interview guide: An interview guide is a list of topics and questions that serve as a roadmap for conducting an interview, helping to ensure that important areas are covered while allowing for flexibility.