Structured Interviews

Structured Interviews

1. A structured interview is a face to face survey; using set questions.

2. They collect quantitative data so are favoured by positivists

3. Advantages

   • Can collet more complex and detailed data than postal questionnaires
   • Reach a wider range of respondents (overcome literacy problem)
   • Have improved response rate (70-80%)
   • Quick to do (as not dependent on postal return)
   • Greater flexibility in asking (and answering) of questions
   • Individual attention can be given to help respondents (explain/repear questions)
   • Can be used with all sections of the population (more representative)
   • Interviewer presence can make answering questions more interesting for respondent
   • Fewer 'dont know' responses when face to face

4. Disadvantages

   • Very costly
   • Time consuming
   • Need to train interviewees
   • Interview situation is always artificial
   • Wages for interviewees
   • Interviewees can sometimes forget/misinterpret a response
   • Face to face interaction may influence respondents
   • The emotional state of the interviewee could affect their response
   • What people say and do are not always the same (validity issue)
   • Only gain a 'snapshot' of population at a certain time