Self-report Techniques : Interviews

Interviewers

An alternative method for asking questions. Particularly useful for gathering more detailed information and enables a more natural approach for questioning. Some interviews are over the phone but most involves face to face interaction

Structured interviews

Made up of pre-determined set of questions that are asked in a fixed order. Like a questionnaire but is face-to-face

Unstructured interviews

Like a conversation, there are no set questions. There is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed. Interviewee is encouraged to expand and elaborate their answers

Semi structured interviews

A list of questions that have been worked out in advance but the interviewers are free to ask follow up questions when appropriate

Interviewer bias

Relates to the aspects of the interviewers and the way in which they ask questions and respond to answers

Design of interviews 1

Involve an interview schedule, should be standardised for each participant to reduce interviewer bias. The interviewer takes notes by audio recordings, video recordings or making written notes

Design of interviews 2

The interview should be conducted in a quiet room, increases the chance of the interview opening up. Good to start the interview with neutral questions to make the participants comfortable. Interviewees should be reminded on several occasions that their answers will be treated in confidence

Interview schedule

List of questions that the interviewer intends to cover

A strength of structured interviews

P - Easy to replicate. E - Consists of a standardised format of pre-determined questions. Decreases differences between interviewers. L - Research findings can be tested for reliability

A limitation of structured interviews

P - Structure can limit responses. E - Interviewers aren’t able to differ from the topic. Lack of flexibility, can result in important issues not being explored. Questions may be interpreted differently by participants. L - Interviewers may not gain detailed info

A strength of unstructured interviews

P - More detailed info gathered. E - The interviewer can ask more open questions, the respondent is likely to give more detailed answers. Can get deeper insight into the respondent’s feelings. L - Develop understanding on a topic using qualitative data. Strengths validity

A limitation of unstructured interviews

P - Difficult to analyse. E - Qualiative data doens’t use statistical tests to analyse data, the researcher has to write a transcript for each interview. Drawing conclusions is difficult. L - Could impact on the interpretation of results, may be inaccurate, can be influenced by the researcher’s own views. Reduces validity of the conclusion

First limitation of structured and unstructured interviews

P - Risk of interviewer bias. E - When interviewers expectations may influence the answers the interviewee gives. L - Could affect the validity of the results. Interviewer bias can be reduced if interviewers are skilled

Second limitation of structured and unstructured interviews

P - Risk of social desirability bias. E - Interviewees may lie for reasons of social desirability. The chance increases by the fact that the interviewee is face to face with the interviewer. L - Internal validity of results is lowered