A semi structured interview is a method of research used for social sciences. There is often a set of questions but the interview is open and allows for diversion. The outcome of a semi structured interview would be qualitative data which is beneficial to many researchers in sociology. In this essay I will assess the use of a semi structured interview as a sociological research method and how effective this method is.
A semi structured interview is very useful as a method of research as it weighs up the qualitative data to give us a more accurate representation of people’s behaviour. According to a recent document (FAO 1990) these interviews can be used both to give and receive information and allows flexibility to probe for details or discuss issues, providing an opportunity for learning. This research method seems like an appropriate method for sociologists to use to make sense of human behaviour as it is high in validity. A semi structured interview is often used for household research; this will result in rich data and observational data production especially between spouses.
However, a semi structured interview will require a lot of planning and it can be very time consuming both to plan the questions to ask the interviewee and to collect and analyse the data obtained. According to a recent document (LAFOREST 2009) in order to conduct a good semi structured interview it will require a lot of thoughtful planning. The planning should include identifying respondents, deciding on the number of interviews to conduct and preparing the interview. It is important to properly plan for the interview as you will have to take in to account the available time and resources and the fact that those who will be the most informative during the interview are not always available as they can be in high demand. This is why it is vital that the interviewer always defines their objectives and plans ahead. If the interviewer does not adhere to a plan it will lead to unreliable sources and the results being low in validity.
On the other hand, semi structured interviews can function as an extension tool as it encourages two way communication. The interviewer will ask the interviewee questions and the interviewee can ask the interviewer questions. The interviewer can phrase the question in a way in which the interviewee can provide more detailed opinions which means the interviews will allow for the understanding of the topic to be developed and will allow for sociologists to identify new ways of seeing the topic (COHEN 2006). This is how sociologists are able to interpret many different people and their experiences from social situations. The interviewer may also interpret social phenomena in this case.
Although, to conduct a semi structured interview the interviewer will need to have interview skills. They may require some training or practice in order to prevent suggestion of answers and bias and ensure they ask clear and direct questions (EVALUATION TOOLBOX 2010). The interviewer must not ask leading or closed questions and must not judge what the respondent has to say as it can make it difficult for the interviewee to elaborate. If the interviewer does not possess these skills it may lead to them influencing the interviewee’s responses and obtaining inaccurate or invalid results. The interviewer must also be sure to decide on the right time to end the interview so the interviewee doesn’t get bored or tired but whilst ensuring that the interviewee has explained and clarified all their points. The interviewee will also need to be able to identify similar traits between respondents who present the same themes (EVALUATIONTOOLBOX 2010) and be able to identify patterns with added quotes from the interviewee to support the analysis.
However, a semi structured interview can be used for sensitive topics. It will allow the interviewee to express their opinions, concerns and feelings and elaborate on their responses if the interview is not intrusive. The conversation is able to flow in order to deal with issues and the interviewee will not be cut off if they stray from the topic (SEHD 2001). In a semi structured interview the interviewee will feel more comfortable with the interviewer and have the freedom to express their views in their own terms. This is how the interviewer can ensure they are obtaining valid results from a reliable source.
On the other hand, for a semi structured interview the interviewer would need to meet with sufficient people in order to make general comparisons. It may be sufficient to only conduct a few interviews with key informants (LAFOREST 2009). In the plan for the interview it should be made clear who will be interviewed, how many people will be interviewed and how much time is allocated for the interviews. If the interviewer does not meet the sufficient people they may obtain invalid results from unreliable sources.
The use of pre-determined questions provides uniformity in a semi structured interview. It provides a clear set of instructions that the interviewer can follow to allow him to develop relevant questions. It is essential even though semi structured interviews are flexible to devise an interview plan and draw up a consent form (LAFOREST 2009). This will ensure that the interviewer keeps himself right and progresses himself and the interviewee through the interview swiftly while obtaining the in-depth information for his research. It will also ensure complete confidentially for the interviewee.
However, the interviewer must ensure complete confidentially whilst interviewing. It is important to always have the interviewees consent when interviewing and to inform them on how the information obtained from the interview will be used (EVALUATION TOOLBOX 2010). This will make it easier to obtain meaningful results if they are comfortable opening up to the interviewer, increasing chances of validity and reliability. In the cases were confidentiality is not promised the interviewee is not likely to participate fully in the interview meaning the interviewer will have incorrect results.
Given these factors, it can be concluded that a semi structured interview is a great way of investigating motivations and intentions of individuals. However, it is not always certain the results obtained are accurate as the results will depend on the feelings of the interviewee at the given time of the interview and how effective the interviewer is at researching. I suggest that when carrying out a semi structured interview that the researcher uses both individual and group interviews and relevant samples for each research method used that way the results are more likely to be valid and reliable.
Bibliography
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