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 across interviews. This format allows for easier comparison of responses and can help minimize interviewer bias, which is crucial when preparing and planning interviews as well as applying effective interviewing techniques.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Structured interviews typically use closed-ended questions, which provide respondents with specific options to choose from, leading to clearer data.
2. This format allows for easier analysis of data since the uniformity in responses simplifies statistical comparisons.
3. Structured interviews can enhance reliability and validity by reducing variability in how questions are asked and understood.
4. They are often used in large-scale surveys and research studies where consistency is critical for drawing accurate conclusions.
5. While structured interviews can provide valuable data, they may limit the depth of understanding by not allowing for follow-up questions or exploration of unexpected topics.

Review Questions

• How does a structured interview contribute to reducing interviewer bias during the interviewing process?
  • A structured interview reduces interviewer bias by standardizing the questions asked and their order, ensuring that each participant receives the same information. This uniform approach minimizes the chance that personal beliefs or preferences of the interviewer will influence how questions are posed or interpreted. As a result, structured interviews yield more reliable data that accurately reflect the views of all respondents, rather than those shaped by individual interviewer styles.
• What are some advantages and disadvantages of using a structured interview compared to a semi-structured interview?
  • Structured interviews offer advantages such as consistency across responses, easier data analysis, and minimized bias, making them ideal for large-scale studies. However, they have limitations as well; their rigid nature can hinder deeper exploration of subjects since there’s little room for flexibility or follow-up questions. In contrast, semi-structured interviews allow for more conversational flow and can capture nuanced insights but may introduce variability that complicates data analysis.
• Evaluate how implementing a structured interview format might impact the overall quality of data collected in a research study.
  • Implementing a structured interview format significantly enhances the overall quality of data collected in a research study by ensuring consistency and reliability across all interviews. The predetermined nature of questions facilitates easier comparison and analysis while minimizing biases introduced by varying interviewing styles. However, it's essential to recognize that while structured interviews yield robust quantitative data, they may lack qualitative richness, potentially missing out on deeper insights that can emerge from more flexible formats.

Related terms

Interview Guide: A document that contains the list of questions and topics to be covered during an interview, helping ensure that all relevant points are addressed.

Semi-Structured Interview: An interview format that combines predefined questions with the flexibility to explore additional topics based on the interviewee's responses.

Interviewer Bias: The tendency for an interviewer's personal beliefs or preferences to influence the way they conduct an interview and interpret responses.