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Exploring Interview Techniques in Social Science Research

This outline provides a comprehensive overview of different types of interviews commonly used in social science research: structured, semi-structured, and unstructured. It discusses the pros and cons of each method, highlighting their applications and limitations. Structured interviews offer standardization and ease of analysis, while semi-structured interviews allow for flexibility and exploration. Unstructured interviews facilitate deeper interaction but require skilled interviewers. Additionally, the outline addresses open and closed questions, their advantages and drawbacks, and includes practical activities to develop interviewing skills.

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Exploring Interview Techniques in Social Science Research

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  1. Research Methods in the Social Sciences Interviewing

  2. Outline • Types of Interview: • Structured • Semi-Structured • Unstructured • Pros & cons of each • Questions: • Open • Closed

  3. Structured Interview • ‘standardised interview’ • Interview schedule • Administered to everyone • Questions read out exactly and in same order • Often fixed range of answers • Very common in surveys

  4. Activity • In Pairs • Design two (related) questions on any topic • Swap questions with another pair • Administer questions & record responses

  5. Structured Interview Pros • Standardisation • Reduces risk of artefacts • Ease of analysis • Ease of coding Cons • Standardisation • No scope to tweak • No scope to probe • Forced answers

  6. Semi-Structured Interview • A list of questions • acts as a guide (interview guide) • Interviewee has flexibility in responses • Questions may differ from guide: • Wording • Order • New questions • Focus on flexibility

  7. Activity • In Pairs • Design an interview guide on any topic • Split into new pairs • Try out the guide • Record the responses

  8. Semi-Structured Interview Pros Cons Less reliability Difficult to replicate Reliability issues Difficult to analyse Time consuming • Flexible • Allows exploration • Allows for a variety of responses • Sensitive

  9. Unstructured Interview • Use of an aide mémoireas a prompt • interviewee allowed freedom to answer • Interviewer responds to answers • Similar to conversation

  10. Activity • In singles • Create an aide mémoire • Find a partner • Converse • Record findings

  11. Unstructured Interview Pros Cons Needs skilled interviewer Costly Time consuming Difficult to replicate Difficult to analyse • Close interaction • High degree of trust • Richer data • More open & honest responses • Scope to probe • Scope to change questions

  12. Open Questions Pros Cons Time consuming Difficult to code Require greater effort from respondents Difficulty in interpreting • Can be answered on own terms • Allow for unorthodox responses • More accommodating of differing levels of knowledge

  13. Closed Questions Pros Cons Loss of spontaneity Forces respondents to choose answer Use of ‘other’ Respondents can interpret answers differently Irritating Lack of rapport • Easy to process • Easier to compare • Ease clarity • Easy to complete • Lessen interpretive bias

  14. Activity • Read survey • Identity (some) problem questions • What are the problems?

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