This chapter begins with a discussion on the disadvantages and advantages of ssis. A semistructured interview is a method of research used most often in the social sciences. Semistructured interviews are superbly suited for a number of valuable tasks, particularly. Advantages and disadvantages interviewing as a method of data collection has both advantages and disadvantages. Since semistructured interviews often contain openened questions and discussions may diverge from the interview guide, it is generally best to taperecord interviews and later transcript these tapes for analysis. Conducted conversationally with one respondent at a time, the semistructured interview ssi employs a blend of closed and openended questions, often accompanied by followup why or how questions. If you are unclear about the differences between them or unsure which one to use, youve come to the right place. Using interviews in a research project table of contents page introduction 1 section 1.
Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques. It is a quantitative research process, that has been employed in every survey research and can be presented in the same way. Conducted conversationally with one respondent at a time, the semi structured interview ssi employs a blend of closed and openended questions, often accompanied by followup why or how questions. F2f interviews are a good way to deepen the understanding of a market, but telephone interviews are another useful form of primary research. Therefore, the focus semi structured interview has its pros and cons which are as follows. The proposed study aims to obtain weights for sustainable construction criteria from the input and perception of industrial. Semistructured interviewing, according to bernard 1988, is best used when you wont get. Recording semi structured interviews typically, the interviewer has a paperbased interview guide that he or she follows. Difference between structured and unstructured interview. The structured interview is a standardized interview process that comes with several advantages and disadvantages. Summarise the advantages and disadvantages of facetoface and telephone interviews, and of individual and group interviews.
Difference between structured and unstructured interviews. The advantages and disadvantages of structured interviews. Using interviews in a research project author nick fox the nihr research design service. Next openended questions advantages and disadvantages. The use of semistructured interviews in pedagogical. Pdf the joys and challenges of semistructured interviewing. Structured vs unstructured vs semistructured interviews. Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in qualitative research. Selection of a suitable and appropriate method is an important aspect in ensuring successful implementation of a research. Semistructured interviewing in primary care research.
According to oakley, qualitative interview is a type of framework in which the practices and standards be not only recorded, but also achieved, challenged and as well as reinforced. About one hour is considered a reasonable maximum length for ssis in order to minimize fatigue for both interviewer and respondent. Advantages and disadvantages of semi structured interviews. Many researchers like to use semistructured interviews because questions can be. Structured interviews are fairly quick to conduct which means that many interviews can take place within a short amount of time. Most indepth collect information about why behaviors are practiced, how people think, and conceptualizations of behavior gain knowledge of exact wordslanguage people use emic insider perspective disadvantages. Even though a semistructured interview has several advantages, it needs time. By systemizing the questions clinicians ask and the way answers to those questions are recorded and.
It combines a few of the preplanned questions of the structured interview with the flexibility to pursue a freeflowing format like the unstructured interview. Even though a semistructured interview has several advantages, it needs time for the interviewers to prepare and do research before actually starting the interview. Critiquing interviewing as a data collection method. Weaknesses of interviewing have been both discussed and critiqued from. Pdf the conduct of structured interviews as research. Despite the disadvantages and costs of ssis, they offer some extraordinary benefits as well. The use of semistructured interviews in pedagogical research june 2012 kingston university. Structured and unstructured interviews simply psychology. Semistructured interviews and focus groups rand corporation. The advantages and disadvantages of each method will be dealt with, briefly. Before discussing the advantages and disadvantages of using a questionnaire in teacherresearch, let us be clear about what we mean by questionnaires. Advantages and disadvantages of structured and semistructured interviews structured interviews were developed to improve our ability to accurately diagnose individuals, in both clinical and research settings.
Needs assessment knowledge base wbi evaluation group 2007 interviews purpose the purpose of conducting interviews is to collect information from a single person through a systematic and structured format. Informal, unstructured, semi structured, structured telephone, facetoface 4 advantages. We will focus on the most common form of semistructured interviews within qualitative researchindividual, facetoface, indepth interviews. Difference between structured, unstructured and semi. Since there are disadvantages of both structured and unstructured interviews, researchers generally prefer to adopt a middleground using a semi structured approach dunn, 2000.
Interviews, questionnaires and observation constantinos n. Semi structured interviews are often preceded by observation, informal and unstructured interviewing in order to allow the researchers to develop a good. This paper explores some of the joys and challenges associated with research interviewing. Using interviews in a research project simmons college. One example from a healthcare study of parents might use the three ailments of chicken pox, measles, and croup, and ask parents to say how they are alike or different. Th e course does not aim to cover all the aspects of interviewing and focus groups, but rather it is designed to provide an overview of these methods, as well as some practical tools. In this case, researchers override the item structure of the semi structured interview, and look for themes in the participant responses across all items and.
Its timeconsuming to sit down with respondents and conduct an openended interview. The interviewer needs to be skilled at opening up the conversation. Qualitative data is more detailed therefore gives a more in depth into what is really happening. Interviewers should keep a list of any such documents that. The following section identifies the relative advantages and disadvantages of each of these modes of administration. Synchronous communication of time, asynchronous communication of.
A structured interview is one where the interviewer asks each participant the same set. Types of interview 2 structured or standardised interviews semi structured interviews unstructured or indepth interviews facetoface interviews telephone interviews focus group interviews section 2. Facetoface interviews have long been the dominant interview technique in the field of qualitative research. This is the most common format of data collection in qualitative research. This allows the interviewer to be prepared and appear competent during the interview. Seven 7 disadvantages of interview as data collection.
Semistructured interviewing is an important tool for gathering data in qualitative research. Pros it helps build a positive rapport between the interviewer and interviewee. Advantages and disadvantages of the four interview techniques 2. It discusses some of the basic skills required to do interviewing well, some of the difficulties associated. A semistructured interview has been referred to as a conversation with a purpose. Advantages and disadvantages of a semistructured interview. An interview is the most commonly used method of recording responses from the respondents in social science research. A structured interview is an interview that has a set of predefined questions and the questions would be asked in the same order for all respondents.
The semistructured interview guide provides a clear set of instructions for interviewers and can provide reliable, comparable qualitative data. Since semi structured interviews often contain openened questions and discussions may diverge from the interview guide, it is generally best to taperecord interviews and later transcript these tapes for analysis. Pros and cons of semi structured interview every research. Unlike a structured interview which contains a series of set questions asked the same way to all interviewees, a semi structured interview is organised around a topic guide. Semi structured and unstructured interviews produce data that are not precoded and have a. Semi structured interviews are similar to structured interviews. The pdf file you selected should load here if your web browser has a. Semistructured interviews provide an effective and feasible research method for family. Name of method focused semistructured interviews brief outline of method this technique is used to collect qualitative data by setting up a situation the interview that allows a respondent the time and scope to talk about their opinions on a particular subject. Conducted conversationally with one respondent at a time, the semi. Publishers pdf, also known as version of record includes final.
A semi structured interview format is often chosen because the open format. Some disadvantages to semistructured interviews include. The interview effect and the interviewee effect may occur see structured interviews. This guide provides an overview and comparison of different job interview types and explains how to conduct each of them in a few simple steps. Interview an interview is formal meetings between two people the interviewer and the respondent where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information an oral examination of an applicant for a job or for different purposes. Unstructured interviews are difficult to repeat if you need to test the reliability of the data. Advantages and disadvantages of four interview techniques in qualitative research interview is important for the interviewer, even if the interview is tape recorded. This means a large sample can be obtained resulting in the findings being representative and having the ability to be generalized to a large population. Situating and constructing diversity in semistructured. The interviews in research are classified as structured and unstructured interviews.
In the last two decades, telephone interviewing became more and more common. Semi structured interviewing is an important tool for gathering data in qualitative research. Recording semistructured interviews typically, the interviewer has a paperbased interview guide that he or she follows. These rely on a preconceived interview guide, which means that stan. Semistructured interviews are best applied when you will not get more than one chance to interview someone and when you will be sending several interviewers out into the field to collect data. Semistructured interviews can be conducted in multiple ways ie, face to face, telephone, textemail, individual, group, brief, indepth, each of which have advantages and disadvantages. While semistructured interviews are a great way to delve deeper into issues, this type of interview methodology is not without its limitations.
The transcribing and coding of interview data is a major task for the researcher which occurs after the data have been collected difficulty in data analysis. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of a semi structured interview. Pros and cons of semi structured interview every research technique has its pros and cons and is used according to the situation to get the maximum benefit from it. Structured interviews with 50experienced designers were conducted and supplemented by shorter, focused interviews. Pdf conducting semistructured interviews researchgate.