Structured Interview

Definition

A structured interview is a systematic approach to interviewing where the interviewer asks a predetermined set of questions in a specific order, ensuring consistency and reliability across interviews. This method allows for easier comparison of responses and helps reduce bias, making it particularly useful in journalistic contexts for obtaining clear and focused information.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Structured interviews are designed to eliminate interviewer bias by sticking to a consistent set of questions for each participant.
2. This type of interview is particularly effective in quantitative research, as it allows for straightforward analysis of responses.
3. In a structured interview, the interviewer often does not deviate from the script, which helps maintain focus on the topic being discussed.
4. They can be used in various contexts, including employment interviews and surveys, but are especially valuable in journalism for gathering factual information.
5. Due to their rigid format, structured interviews may miss the depth of responses that open-ended questions could provide.

Review Questions

• How does a structured interview help reduce bias compared to other interview formats?
  • A structured interview reduces bias by requiring the interviewer to ask the same set of questions in the same order for every participant. This consistency minimizes the influence of the interviewer's personal opinions or biases on the responses, allowing for more objective data collection. By keeping the focus strictly on the predetermined questions, structured interviews promote uniformity in responses, which is crucial for comparison and analysis.
• Discuss how structured interviews might be used effectively in journalism and what advantages they offer.
  • Structured interviews are effective in journalism as they ensure that reporters obtain specific information needed for their stories while maintaining consistency across different interviews. The advantages include easier comparison of answers and the ability to analyze data quantitatively if needed. Additionally, they help journalists stay on track during interviews, focusing on essential questions rather than being sidetracked by tangential discussions.
• Evaluate the limitations of structured interviews in terms of depth and flexibility during information gathering.
  • While structured interviews provide valuable consistency and reduce bias, they have limitations regarding depth and flexibility. The rigid format may prevent respondents from elaborating on their answers or sharing insights that could lead to richer stories. Additionally, the lack of adaptability means that if an interesting topic arises during the conversation, the interviewer might miss out on exploring it due to sticking strictly to the script. This can lead to a more superficial understanding of complex issues.

Related terms

Open-ended Questions: Questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words, providing more detailed and nuanced information.

Interview Guide: A list of questions or topics that the interviewer intends to cover during the interview, which can be used in both structured and unstructured formats.

Semi-structured Interview: An interview format that combines elements of both structured and unstructured interviews, allowing for predetermined questions but also giving room for follow-up questions based on responses.