A semistructured interview is a method of research used most often in the social sciences. Guide to organizing semistructured interviews with key informant. This means that each respondent received exactly the same interview stimulus as any other. Semistructured interview tools for participatory science. Researchers may select variables to use in their analysis from one secondary data source or may combine data from across sources to create new datasets. This methodology transfer paper on using structured interviewing. Such interviews involve the use of a set of predetermined questions and highly standardized techniques of recording. The reasons for standardization is to ensure that all respondents reply to the same questions. This paper explores some of the joys and challenges associated with research interviewing. The main objective of the semi structured interview is to alternate existing views about certain topics or to reveal new insights into them. While a structured interview has a rigorous set of questions which does not allow one to divert, a semi structured interview is open, allowing new ideas to be brought up during the interview as a result of what the interviewee says. Recording semi structured interviews typically, the interviewer has a paperbased interview guide that he or she follows. After reading this article you will learn about the structures and unstructured interviews used for conducting social research.
This document contains example structured interview questions for agencies supporting persons with disabilities. This is the most common format of data collection in qualitative research. There are a range of approaches to interviewing, from. Explain what are the connections between the qualities of a semi structured interview and the example of research in the. A semistructured interview is a qualitative research method that has the freewheeling quality of an unstructured interview, but it is guided by a written list of essential questionstopics. The semistructured interview is best defined as a n method of data collection which n involves an interaction between an interviewer and the interviewee for which n the purpose is to obtain valid and reliable information. Structured interviewing and questionnaire construction. Structured and unstructured interviews your article library. Which communication mechanism according to you was the most effective and why. Interviews can be conducted facetoface or over the telephone. Choosing between an interview and a self completed questionnaire on which the respondent writes their answers is an important decision. This means it has some structure, but theres freedom. A structured interview is a quantitative research method where the interviewer a set of prepared closedended questions in the form of an interview schedule, which heshe reads out exactly as worded interviews schedules have a standardized format which means the same questions are asked to each interviewee in the same order see fig.
For examples, it has been used in research on health, gender issues, landscape, environmental justice, land management. The interviewer and respondents engage in a formal interview. The semistructured interview is modeled more after a conversation. By tracing the life of an actual research projectan exploration of a school districts effort over 40 years to address racial equalityas a consistent example threaded. Using a structured interview is a way of trying to ensure comparability across the sample. However, the researcher should consider several issues when preparing an interview guide and a central question is the depth of information to be collected.
Feminist researchers have advocated the use of indepth semi structured interviews in order to give voice to those individuals who are. A semi structured interview has been referred to as a conversation with a purpose burgess, 1984, the characteristics of which include. Structured interviews are conducted with the prestructured set of questions. Using interviews in a research project introduction the interview is an important data gathering technique involving verbal communication between the researcher and the subject. They are more flexible and freeflowing than questionnaires or structured interviews, allowing. Interviews are commonly used in survey designs and in exploratory and descriptive studies. The researcher can take the interview by himself or he can hire someone who has knowledge of conducting the interview as well as the subject of the interview. Project muse mastering the semistructured interview and beyond. Semistructured interviews and focus groups rand corporation. Apr 10, 2017 a structured interview may not yield as detailed information as an unstructured interview will yield. They will ask more openended questions, allowing for a discussion with the interviewee rather than a straightforward question and answer format. The aim of this approach is to ensure that each interview is presented with exactly the same questions in the same order.
A semistructured interview has been referred to as a conversation with a purpose. A summary of semistructured interviews with natural resource professionals results results we interviewed thirty individuals table 1 using our semistructured interview guide. Recording semistructured interviews typically, the interviewer has a paperbased interview guide that he or she follows. Generally, such interviews gather qualitative data, although this can be coded into categories to be made amenable to statistical analysis. The development of interview techniques in language. Dec 30, 2017 the most important difference between structured and unstructured interview is that when the interview is structured, same questions, are put before the candidates, which are job related. A al oduction h iewing alan morris sage publications ltd. Secondary data sources are datasets that are already in existence, such as census data. Describe what are the key qualities of a semistructured interview. This section includes general information on the structured interview and its advantages, the risks associated with an unstructured interview, relevant legal issues, and an overview of the structured interview process. Th e structured interview is at the quantitative end of the scale, and more used in survey approaches. The interviewer is normally free to add questions or change the order if necessary.
While a structured interview has a rigorous set of questions which does not allow one to divert, a semistructured interview is open, allowing new ideas to be brought up during the interview as a result of what the interviewee says. Semi structured interview is a very flexible qualitative research method that has been applied in a wide range of context to answer a variety of research questions. Using structured interviewing techniques council of the inspectors. A research interview involves an interviewer, who coordinates the process of the conversation and asks questions, and an interviewee, who responds to those questions. The advantages and disadvantages of each method will be dealt with, briefly. Semi structured interviewing is an important tool for gathering data in qualitative 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. Jan 29, 2016 semi structured interviews are a useful tool for gathering qualitative information. The most important difference between structured and unstructured interview is that when the interview is structured, same questions, are put before the candidates, which are job related. Semi structured interviews are a widely used technique in development research. Project muse mastering the semistructured interview and.
Unstructured data is all those things that cant be so readily classified and fit into a neat box. Semi structured interviews are based on semi structured interview guide, which is a schematic presentation of questions or topics and need to be explored by the interviewer. Two individuals who had been suggested by other interviewees deferred the opportunity to be interviewed. Semi structured data business intelligence etl tools. What did you find particularly easy or difficult during the gameplay. Semistructured interviews are particularly useful for collecting information. Structured interviewing and questionnaire construction introduction and overview studies of humans can be based on different forms of information. A semistructured interview is a meeting in which the interviewer does not strictly follow a formalized list of questions. 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. Semistructured interviews are encounters with informants directed towards understanding informants perspectives on their lives, experiences or situations as expressed in their own words.
Typically, the interviewer records your answers, which are. Thematic analysis is a hugely popular analytic method. How i learned to design and conduct semistructured interviews. A summary of semistructured interviews with natural. Interviews schedules have a standardized format which means the same questions are asked to each interviewee in the same order see fig. Feminist researchers have advocated the use of indepth semistructured interviews in order to.
To achieve optimum use of interview time, interview guides serve the useful purpose of exploring many respondents more systematically and comprehensively as well as to keep. Structured interviews use a questionnaire format with closed questions and can be beneficial, particularly when participants have either a speech or language impairment. How i learned to design and conduct semistructured. I looked for existing literature that expressed the pros and cons of the interview. Difference between structured and unstructured interview structured interview. Unstructured interviews university of texas at austin. This ensures that answers can be reliably aggregated and that comparisons can be made with confidence.
As no research interview lacks structure most of the qualitative research interviews are either semistructured, lightly. Unlike formal interviews, which follow a rigid format of set questions, semi structured interviews focus on specific themes but cover them in a conversational style. Structured and unstructured interviews the working centre. This document contains example structured interview questions for agencies supporting. Jul 09, 2015 structured and unstructured interview 1. Using structured interviewing techniques is one of a. Semistructured interview meaning in the cambridge english. How and why might a semistructured interview be used in qualitative research. Permission is required from rand to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for. Using structured interviewing techniques is one of. Nov 30, 2019 a semi structured interview is a meeting in which the interviewer does not strictly follow a formalized list of questions. A structured interview is a quantitative research method where the interviewer a set of prepared closedended questions in the form of an interview schedule, which heshe reads out exactly as worded. A structured interview also known as a standardized interview or a researcheradministered survey is a quantitative research method commonly employed in survey research.
Pdf the joys and challenges of semistructured interviewing. This reissued version, prepared by kenneth litkowski, supersedes the version published in 1985. Difference between structured and unstructured interview. What are the key qualities of a semistructured interview. Hand 2003 highlights the need for a reflexive approach. Th e rest of the scale, semistructured and unstructured, is the area occupied. Qualitative research methodinterviewing and observation. Open ended interview focused on 199299 and 19992005 introduction we want to understand how life in uganda has been going since 1992 when you were interviewed by ubos. This section provides practical tips on how to design interview. The questions in a structured interview may be phrased in such a way that a limited range of responses is elicited. The interviewer may prepare a list of questions but does not necessarily ask. By tracing the life of an actual research projectan exploration of a school districts effort over 40 years to address racial equalityas a consistent example threaded across the volume, anne galletta shows in concrete. I focus here on developing interview materials for studies that rely on direct informantbased information. The development of interview techniques in language studies.
Using interviews in a research project simmons university. 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. Analysing semistructured interviews using thematic. Difference between structured and unstructured interviews. A semi structured interview is a method of research used most often in the social sciences. The semistructured interview is often perceived as an easy data collection method wengraf 2001. When i decided to use interviews, i proceeded to find a good reference to place the selected method within the larger qualitative framework. However it is important that respondents are trained to administer questionnaires and that they are wellbriefed on the interview topic. Do you think knowing your partner for long helped you playing the game in a better way. The aim is for all interviewees to be given exactly the same context of questioning. Structured interviews are typically used in surveys see our survey research methods tip sheet for. Sample structured interview questions based upon csss competency areas. The interviewer develops and uses an interview guide.
Semistructured interviews sit halfway between a structured survey and an unstructured conversation. The interviewer in a semistructured interview generally has a framework. Some strategies for developing interview guides harvard sociology. Designing and conducting research with online interviews. The structure in this interview method comes in the form of the interview guide that is planned. This pdf has been generated from sage research methods datasets. The structure in this interview method comes in the form of the interview guide that is planned beforehand. Qualitative interview research is unique because the researcher is the instrument. Semistructured interviews are a useful tool for gathering qualitative information. The key to understanding how a semistructured interview is carried out is to look at the name.
Typically, the interviewer records your answers, which are potentially scored on a standard grid. The questions are based on the community support skills standards available. On the contrary, when the interview is unstructured, questions may differ from interviewee to interviewee, for the same job, which may or may not be related to the job. In a structured interview, each candidate is asked similar questions in a predetermined format. As the questions are prestructured any question that the researcher may want to ask other than the interview schedule will not be possible. 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. Semistructured interviewing is an important tool for gathering data in qualitative research. They provide more rigour than an entirely unstructured interview, allowing the interviewer to attempt to answer a number of predefined questions and allowing common themes between interviews to be established.
Mastering the semistructured interview and beyond offers an indepth and captivating stepbystep guide to the use of semistructured interviews in qualitative research. 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. Emphasis tends to be on your past experience and assets you can bring to company. The semi structured interview is best defined as a n method of data collection which n involves an interaction between an interviewer and the interviewee for which n the purpose is to obtain valid and reliable information. The interviewer may provide clarification on some questions. The semistructured indepth interview i will be focusing on semistructured indepth interviews in this book is similar to a conversation in that there are two individuals discussing a topic of mutual interest and ideally the discussion is relaxed, open and honest mason, 1998. It is a short, preliminary, investigative study to explore in more depth by means of a variety of techniques, such as probing, establishing rapport, and so on. Qualitative interviewing is a flexible and powerful tool to capture the voices and the ways people make meaning of their experience learning to conduct semi. The indepth qualitative interview has been adopted by many researchers within the social sciences, as a means to gain an insight into how people make sense of their world. Here, the interviewer works from a list of topics that need to be covered with each respondent, but the order and exact wording of questions is not important. It is different from a questionnaire or a survey in that interviewers can improvise. Guide to organizing semistructured interviews with key. An interview is a conversation for gathering information.