Scribd
Upload
131 views

Different Types of Interview

The document discusses different types of interviews used in qualitative research, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews, and how interviews can vary based on philosophical positioning, flexibility, means of conducting, recording method, and type of interviewee. It also covers issues like interviewer bias and leading questions that researchers should be aware of when conducting interviews.

Uploaded by

lincy joseph
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
131 views

Different Types of Interview

The document discusses different types of interviews used in qualitative research, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews, and how interviews can vary based on philosophical positioning, flexibility, means of conducting, recording method, and type of interviewee. It also covers issues like interviewer bias and leading questions that researchers should be aware of when conducting interviews.

Uploaded by

lincy joseph
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

Research Methods

Basic Qualitative Research Methods

Different Types of Interviews


In today’s lecture

• Interviews with different paradigms


• Interviews with different levels of flexibility
• Interviews conducted by different means
• Interviews recorded in different ways
• Interviews with different types of interviewees
What is interviewing
• Interviewing is questioning human beings in order to
obtain knowledge.
• Interviewing is the most widely employed method in
qualitative research.
• Differences:
1. Philosophical position
2. Flexibility
3. Means
4. Way of recording
5. Type of interviewee
6. Type of data
Different philosophical positions

• Quantitative interviewing: data are gathered


through the standardised questionnaire with
rigidly structured questions and answers.

• Qualitative interviewing: data are gathered


through flexible and non-standardised
questioning.
Different levels of flexibility

• Structured interview
• Unstructured interview
• Semi-structured interview
Questioning techniques
At the most basic level your questions will either be open or closed:

•Open Ended- a question that does not limit the potential answer that a
participant could give and encourages detail.

Could you give me your opinion about which method of coaching is the most
valuable and suggest reasons for this?

•Closed – a question that is presented to a participants that limits potential


answers to a list or “yes” or “no”.

What is your favourite team in football/rugby/cricket/ netball etc?

Other Methods:

- Hypothetical. - Multi- Barrelled. - Observational.


- Behavioural/Competency Based. - Data Recall.
- Reasoning. - Evaluation.
Structured interview
Corbetta (2003)
• All respondents are asked the same questions with the
same wording and in the same sequence.
• Respondents (Interviewees) are free to answer as they
wish.
• A questionnaire with open-ended questions of a lesser
degree of standardization.
• Unable to probe as deeply as unstructured interview
serves.
• Used when the researcher wants to gather data to
describe a given social phenomenon quantitatively
but knows little about that phenomenon.
Unstructured interview
• Neither the content nor the form of the questions is
predetermined.
• The interviewer raises the topics, encourages the
respondent to elucidate further and leads them back
to the main point only if they begin to digress towards
subjects irrelevant.
• When unforeseen but relevant sub-themes arise
during the interview, they will be developed further.
• The timing of interview should be determined by the
respondent.
Semi-structured interview

• The interviewer normally has a list of questions,


which serves as a set of guidelines.
• The interviewer decides in which order the various
topics are dealt with and the wording of the
questions.
• The interviewer is free to develop any themes
arising during the interview.
• Flexibility within a predetermined scheme.
Interview methodology issues
Interviewer effect/bias Leading Questions

This concept refers to the •You must be very careful


possibility that a not to elicit a certain
researcher may influence response from a
or distort opinions. participant.

For example:

I think that the best form


of exercise is swimming,
would you agree with this?
Example interview

View the following Interview with one of the greatest


players ever to play football:

Does the researcher use:

•Open and Closed questions.


•Interviewer bias.
•Leading questions.

•Lionel Messi.
Different means

• Face-to-face interview
• Telephone interview
• Online interview
• Interview by email/mail
Face-to-face interview

• The best way of conducting qualitative


interview.
• Unstructured, semi-structured or informal.
• Conversation with facial expression and body
language.
• Taking notes can be difficult.
• Transcription can be time-consuming.
• The interviewer is able to lead.
Telephone interview

• Unstructured or semi-structured
• Conversation without facial expression and
body language.
• Taking notes can be easier.
• Transcription can be time-consuming.
• The interviewer is able to lead.
Online interview

• Written conversation
• Semi-structured
• Time-consuming
• Easy and accurate transcription
• The interviewer is able to lead.
Interview by email/mail

• Structured
• Follow-up questions are often needed.
• Easy and accurate transcription
• The interviewer is unable to lead.
Different ways of recording

• Notes
• Camera
• Recorder
Notes

• Taken after but not during informal or unstructured


interview.
• Often taken during semi-structured interview.
• More a means of reminding the interviewer rather
than a means of recording data.
• Transcription based upon notes may be less accurate.
• The interviewer does not need the interviewee’s
consent before he takes any notes.
Camera or recorder

• The interviewee’s consent must be gained before a camera


or a recorder is used to record the interview.
• A lot of respondents do not want what they say to be
recorded.
• Problem of reactivity.
• Transcription could be time-consuming but accurate.
• The interviewer may still take notes during or after the
interview.
Different types of interviewees
Flick (2006):

• Interview with a person: individual interests, biographical


account and single case.

• Interview with an expert: interests of his or her capacity


for a certain field or activity, representing a group of
people with specific knowledge or abilities. The interviewer
should be familiar with the topics in order to successfully
conduct an expert interview.

• Interview with focus groups


Seminar Work
Task: • Step 1: Make a question-list which
Interview two friends in the group. includes at least 4 questions
Develop an interview guide/list of relevant to the central topic.
questions:
• Step 2: Verbally question the first
Central topic: which Sports club do interviewee and ask your second to
you support and why? write out their answers to your
questions.
From this: Report your findings.
• Step 3: Explain the differences
between the two interviews.
Required Reading
• The textbook:
Mason, J. (2002) Qualitative Researching (2nd
Ed), London: Sage.

• This week’s required reading:


Chapter 4

You might also like