LD METHODS CLASS

* The Interview
• TYPES
• strengths and
weaknesses
*The Interviewer
 r v i e w , t h e r e s e a r c h e r
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interview.
 01 Structured Interview
(standardized interview)
- a quantitative research method where the
interviewer a set of prepared closed-ended
questions in the form of an interview schedule,
which he/she 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
 Strengths
1. Structured interviews are easy to replicate as a fixed set of
closed questions are used, which are easy to quantify – this
means it is easy to test for reliability.
2. Structured interviews are fairly quick to conduct which means
that many interviews can take place within a short amount of
time. 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.
 Limitations
1. Structured interviews are not flexible. This means
new questions cannot be asked impromptu (i.e. during
the interview) as an interview schedule must be
followed.
2. The answers from structured interviews lack detail
as only closed questions are asked which generates
quantitative data. This means a researcher won't
know why a person behaves in a certain way.
 02 Semi-Structured
Semi-structured interviews involve a series of
open-ended questions based on the topic
areas the researcher wants to cover.
The open-ended nature of the question
defines the topic under investigation but
provides opportunities for both interviewer
and interviewee to discuss some topics in
more detail.
 Strengths
1. More flexible as questions can be adapted and
changed depending on the respondents’ answers. The
interview can deviate from the interview schedule.
2. Generate qualitative data through the use of open
questions. This allows the respondent to talk in some
depth, choosing their own words. This helps the
researcher develop a real sense of a person’s
understanding of a situation.
3. Have increased validity because it gives the
interviewer the opportunity to probe for a deeper
understanding, ask for clarification & allow the
interviewee to steer the direction of the interview.
 Limitations
1. It can be time-consuming to conduct an unstructured
interview and analyze the qualitative data (using methods
such as thematic analysis).
2. Employing and training interviewers is expensive, and not
as cheap as collecting data via questionnaires. For example,
certain skills may be needed by the interviewer. These
include the ability to establish rapport and knowing when to
probe.
 03 Unstructured Interview (in-depth)
Unstructured interviews do not use any set questions, instead,
the interviewer asks open-ended questions based on a specific
research topic, and will try to let the interview flow like
a natural conversation.
The interviewer modifies his or her questions to
suit the respondents' specific experiences.
Interviewer tasks and skills
Prompt questions tend to only get
asked if the interviewee hasn't given a
detailed answer. They're used when
the interviewer sees that the
candidate doesn't understand the
question, or doesn't have the
knowledge or experience to give a
credible response
A prompt interview is one in which an interviewer encourages
a candidate to say certain statements or give particular
answers. To prompt someone in this context is to remind, cue
or tell them about what they might say or do. Interviewers
may ask leading questions or make suggestions to explain
information and guide the interviewee to a thought or
conclusion.

For example, if an interviewer asks a candidate, "What do you

like about the field of education?" and the candidate lacks an
answer, the interviewer might offer a follow-up question like,
"Is it because you enjoy helping students?"
What is a probe ?
A probe interview is one in which an interviewer
explores or investigates a candidate's answers further.
To probe someone in an interview context is to ask
for more information, detail or specificity.
Interviewers may ask analytical, follow-up questions
to understand the reason and explanation behind
feelings, actions, events or other areas. Probing
strategies give interviewees the opportunity to
elaborate on their statements and speak freely about
their experiences.
A prompt is a prepared response to the
respondent by the interviewer.
 A probe is a follow-up question that is
used after the
respondent has given theirfirst answer.
It is used to elicit a more detailed
response.
Sometimes probes are general
andnon-directed. In
contrast
some probes are very specific, for
example,
clarifying time of day
Preparing and conducting the interview
*The interview schedule
*Conducting the interview
- Preparing for the interview.
-Arranging the interview
-Establishing rapport
-Conducting the interview
Preparing and conducting the interview
-Body language
-Silences
-Recording data
-Closing the interview
How to write a semi-
structured interview guide

Reference: Methods Designing a semi-structured interview guide for

qualitative interviews by Daniel Turner (2026).
1. Ensure that your interview guide
questions are open-ended, answer
your research questions, and phrased
with your respondents in mind.
- break down your research into questions that have meaning
for the participant and that they can engage with.
-questions should be fairly informal and jargon free (unless
that person is an expert in that field of jargon), and open
ended - so they can’t be easily answered with a yes or no. -
should also be non-leading so that respondents aren’t pushed
down a certain interpretation.
2. Include optional follow-up
questions, using prompt words.
- provide some structure for the participant, so they are not
expected (or encouraged) to recite their whole life story
-Someone might reveal something that you are interested in,
and is relevant to the research project. So ask more!

-For example, the question “When did you first visit the
doctor?” might be annotated with optional prompts such as
“Why did you go then?”, “Were you afraid?” or “Did anyone
go with you?”. Prompt words might reduce this to ‘Why THEN
/ afraid / with someone’.
3. Be flexible with the order that you
ask the questions.
- learn how to from one topic or question to the next,
while still seeming like a normal conversation.
-make sure that you are always listening to the interviewee,
and thinking at the same time about how what they are
saying links to other discussion topics

-learn to flow from topic to topic as the conversation evolves

(while still covering everything on the interview guide)
4. Know your interview guide
backwards – literally.
- know everything on your interview guide off by heart, and
in any sequence. Since things will crop up in unpredictable
ways, you should be comfortable asking questions in different
orders to help the conversational flow.
-always good to have the interview guide in front of you; it
lets you tick off questions as they are asked (so you can see
what hasn’t been covered), is space to write notes, and also
can be less intimidating for the interviewee, as you can look at
your notes occasionally rather than staring them in the eye all
the time.
5. Aim for natural conversation
-the most honest and rich responses come from relaxed,
non-combative discussions
-Make the first question easy, to ease the participant
into the interview, and get them used to the question-
answer format
-Don’t sit in silence: nod, say ‘Yes’, or ‘Of course’ every
now and then, to show you are listening and
empathising like a normal human being. Yet do be
careful about sharing your own potentially leading
opinions, and making the discussion about yourself.
5. Aim for natural conversation
-the most honest and rich responses come from relaxed,
non-combative discussions
-Make the first question easy, to ease the participant
into the interview, and get them used to the question-
answer format
-Don’t sit in silence: nod, say ‘Yes’, or ‘Of course’ every
now and then, to show you are listening and
empathising like a normal human being. Yet do be
careful about sharing your own potentially leading
opinions, and making the discussion about yourself.
MIDTERM EXAM: 1st WEEK OF MARCH
(MARCH 4 and 5)

DATA GATHERING SHOULD BE DONE

AFTER MIDTERM EXAM
(Meanwhile, time to recruit participants, reach out to
contact persons, prepare communications)
 Exercise # :
Draft your
interview guide
PILOT TESTING

- SOMEONE HAS TO ACT AS PARTICIPANT

-NOTE THE FF:
-DID THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ASKED THE INTENDED
QUESTIONS?
- ARE THERE QUESTIONS WHICH ARE
REPETITIVE/REDUNDANT?
- DID THE ANSWERS OF THE “RESPONDENT” SOMEHOW
ANSWER THE RESEARCH QUESTION?
-OTHER OBSERVATIONS