Structured Interview

Definition

A structured interview is a research method where the interviewer asks a predetermined set of questions in a specific order, ensuring consistency and comparability in responses. This approach is designed to minimize variability in answers and allows for quantitative analysis, making it particularly useful in contexts where clear, objective data is needed.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Structured interviews help ensure that all participants are asked the same questions, which increases the reliability of the data collected.
2. This type of interview can be used in various fields, including market research, psychology, and academic studies, making it versatile.
3. Structured interviews can include both closed-ended and open-ended questions, but they primarily focus on closed-ended questions for easier data analysis.
4. By following a strict format, structured interviews can reduce interviewer bias and influence on the respondents' answers.
5. The data gathered from structured interviews is typically easier to analyze statistically compared to more open-ended formats.

Review Questions

• How does a structured interview contribute to the reliability of collected data compared to unstructured or semi-structured interviews?
  • A structured interview enhances reliability by ensuring that each participant answers the same set of predetermined questions, which reduces variability in responses. Unlike unstructured or semi-structured interviews where questions may change based on prior answers, the fixed format of a structured interview minimizes potential biases and inconsistencies from both the interviewer and participants. This leads to more comparable results across different subjects.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using structured interviews in professional settings such as hiring processes or research studies.
  • Structured interviews offer several advantages including increased consistency in responses, ease of comparison across candidates or subjects, and reduced bias from interviewers. However, they can also limit the depth of responses as they may not allow participants to elaborate on their thoughts. In professional settings like hiring, this could mean missing out on valuable insights about a candidate's personality or fit for the role due to the rigid format.
• Evaluate how employing non-verbal communication techniques can enhance the effectiveness of a structured interview when interviewing experts in their fields.
  • Utilizing non-verbal communication techniques during structured interviews with experts can significantly enhance engagement and comprehension. For instance, maintaining eye contact and using appropriate body language can create a comfortable atmosphere, encouraging experts to provide more nuanced answers even within a structured format. This combination of verbal structure with supportive non-verbal cues allows for richer data collection while still adhering to the benefits of a structured approach.

Related terms

Interview Schedule: A detailed plan outlining the specific questions and topics to be covered during an interview, guiding the interviewer through the structured process.

Closed-Ended Questions: Questions that provide respondents with a limited set of response options, often used in structured interviews to facilitate easy analysis of data.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research: Qualitative research focuses on understanding human behavior and experiences, while quantitative research emphasizes numerical data and statistical analysis, often utilizing structured interviews.