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Structured Interviews (Theoretical (Strengths (They are highly reliable…
Structured Interviews
Theoretical
Strengths
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They give a 100% response rate as the interviews are conducted
with the researcher, not like a mailed questionnaire where you probably wont get a 100% response rate.
Even though they lack validity, they have more validity than
mailed questionnaires. As structured interviews are conducted
with the researcher there, meaning the researcher can see the
interviewee's body language and expressions.
Weaknesses
A large lack of validity when using structured interviews as they are basically questionnaires. This means they have short answers with little answers specific to one person.
Even open ended questions would be generalised into short answers so they can be compared to other interviews.
Validity can also be reduced due to the interview being face-to-face. Therefore, the interviewee may answer dishonestly so they can seem socially acceptable when answering a question.
Ethical
Strengths
Interviewees can be debriefed before the interview starts. Which means they will have a better understanding of the questions they will be taking.
If some of the questions cause interviewees to be distressed or nervous on answering them. The interviewer can reassure the interviewee.
Being there, the researcher can also once again promise the interview will be confidential.
Weaknesses
Being face-to-face however, means that the interviewees wont get anonymity. Unlike a mailed questionnaire.
Practical
Strengths
Much quicker than the alternative interview. Unstructured interviews. As unstructured interviews are filled with open ended questions and open answers. Along with it being qualitative data. Therefore, making structured interviews the fastest interview to do.
Cheaper to do than a mailed questionnaire, as postage to multiple places can be expensive with being unsure they'll return with a response.
Due to the data being quantitative, it makes the data easy to compare, analyse and generalise. Making it easy to see trends and patterns within the findings of the interviews.
100% response rate, conducted face-to-face.
Weaknesses
Because the interviews are all conducted face-to-face. This can be time consuming as it will take a long time to conduct multiple interviews. It could be less time consuming if the researcher had used mailed questionnaires as the researcher can work on something else while waiting for their responses.
Structured interviews are one-to-one interviews that are led by the interviewer who has a list of questions. These questions are very general and never contain long answers. Basically a questionnaire with someone asking the questions. Therefore, this makes structured interviews, quantitative data (numerical data). This means the data will be highly reliable as it will be easy to analyse all data collected into a generalisation or trend. Which makes positivists like this form of research method as they are looking for reliable methods to find certain patterns and trends in society. Also structured interviews are a primary source.