Questionnaires and Interviews 2

Which interview is made up of pre-determined questions and asked in a fixed order and are like a questionnaire but conducted face to face or over the phone?

Unstructured interviews are like a conversation

Which of these is a good example of semi-structured interview?

Questionnaires are [blank_start]cost[blank_end]-effective. They can gather large amounts of [blank_start]data[blank_end] quickly because they can be distributed to a large numbers of data because they can be distributed to large amounts of people (note that it's the number of [blank_start]people[blank_end] that's important as this determines the [blank_start]volume[blank_end] of data collected). A questionnaire can be completed without the [blank_start]researcher[blank_end] being present, as in the case of a [blank_start]postal[blank_end] questionnaire, which also reduces the [blank_start]effort[blank_end] involved. The data that questionnaires produce is usually [blank_start]straight forward[blank_end] to analyse and this is particularly the case if the questionnaire comprises mainly fixed choice [blank_start]closed[blank_end] questions.The data itself lends itself to [blank_start]statistical[blank_end] analysis, and [blank_start]comparisons[blank_end] between [blank_start]groups[blank_end] of people can be made using charts and [blank_start]graphs[blank_end].

A major problem is that the responses given may not always be [blank_start]truthful[blank_end]. Respondents may be keen to present themselves in a [blank_start]positive[blank_end] light and this may [blank_start]influence[blank_end] their answers. This is a form of a [blank_start]demand[blank_end] characteristic called social desirability bias. Questionnaires often produce a response [blank_start]bias[blank_end], which is where respondents tend to answer in a [blank_start]similar[blank_end] way.This may be because respondents complete the questionnaire too [blank_start]quickly[blank_end] and fail to read questions properly. A particular form of [blank_start]response[blank_end] bias, acquiescence bias.

[blank_start]Structured[blank_end] interviews, like [blank_start]questionnaires[blank_end], are [blank_start]straightforward[blank_end] to replicate due to their [blank_start]standardised[blank_end] format. The [blank_start]format[blank_end] also reduces [blank_start]differences[blank_end] between [blank_start]interviewers[blank_end]. It's not possible, however, given the nature of the [blank_start]structured[blank_end] interview, for interviewers to [blank_start]deviate[blank_end] from the topic or [blank_start]elaborate[blank_end] their points, and this may be a source of [blank_start]frustration[blank_end] for some.

There is much [blank_start]more[blank_end] [blank_start]flexibility[blank_end] in an [blank_start]unstructured[blank_end] than in an a structured interview. The interviewer can [blank_start]follow[blank_end] up points as they arise and is much more likely to [blank_start]gain insight[blank_end] into the [blank_start]world[blank_end] of the interviewee. However, [blank_start]analysis[blank_end] of data from an unstructured interview is not [blank_start]straightforward[blank_end]. The [blank_start]researcher[blank_end] may have to [blank_start]sift[blank_end] through much [blank_start]irrelevant[blank_end] information and drawing [blank_start]firm conclusions[blank_end] may be difficult. As with [blank_start]questionnaires[blank_end], there's a [blank_start]risk[blank_end] that interviewees may lie for reasons of social [blank_start]desirability[blank_end]. However, a [blank_start]skilled[blank_end] and experienced interviewer should be able to [blank_start]establish[blank_end] sufficient rapport with the participant so that even when [blank_start]sensitive[blank_end] and personal topics are [blank_start]discussed[blank_end], any responses given are more [blank_start]truthful[blank_end].