Primary Methods Of Research - Unstructured Interviews

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

a qualitative research method favoured by interpretivists for their ability to explore participants’ subjective experiences + meanings in-depth. They involve open-ended questions and a flexible format, allowing respondents to express themselves freely.

Question 2

Practical

Answer 2

One key strength of unstructured interviews lies in their practical application for exploratory research.
can help researchers refine their understanding of a topic when they are initially unsure of the specific areas to investigate

However, this method’s practical limitations are significant.
Time-consuming, as they often last several hours - Wright researched exclusion African-Caribbean boys, 3rd interview was 10 months after 1st
Additionally, interviewers require extensive training in sociology and interpersonal skills to establish rapport and recognise important sociological insights, making the process resource-intensive.

Question 3

Ethical

Answer 3

provide an empathetic environment for participants, especially discussing sensitive topics such as domestic violence. The flexibility + rapport established during these interviews can reduce the harm caused by exploring such delicate issues.

However, ethical concerns, as the interview setting may lead participants to feel pressured to answer questions, even if they are uncomfortable.
Researchers must ensure that participants are fully aware of their right to withdraw at any point
Confidentiality, particularly recording interview

Question 4

Reliability

Answer 4

In terms of reliability, unstructured interviews face significant challenges.
Each interview is unique, as the questions asked + the interviewer’s technique vary, making it difficult to replicate the research + achieve consistent results.
Unlike structured interviews, which produce standardised data, the qualitative nature of unstructured interviews lacks pre-coded answers.

Positivists criticise this lack of reliability, as they prefer methods like the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), which use structured interviews to generate consistent data trends over time.

Question 5

Validity

Answer 5

excel in producing valid data
open-ended nature of these interviews allows participants to share their views in their own words
This enables researchers to capture deeper insights into participants’ lived experiences
Furthermore, flexibility of unstructured interviews allows researchers to adapt questions based on the interviewee’s responses, ensuring a deeper understanding of their perspectives.

However, validity can be undermined by interviewee bias - Hawthorne effect

Question 6

Representativeness

Answer 6

Unstructured interviews also struggle with representativeness.
The lengthy time required to conduct + analyse interviews limits the sample size, making it difficult to generalise findings to a broader population.
This issue contrasts with large-scale structured surveys, like the British Social Attitudes Survey which uses them alongside questionnaires, collects data from thousands of respondents, providing greater generalisability.

Question 7

Theoretical

Answer 7

The theoretical outlook on unstructured interviews highlights the divide between interpretivists and positivists

Interpretivists favour these interviews for their ability to produce rich, qualitative data that uncover participants’ meanings and experiences. The absence of structure allows interviewees to guide the conversation, reflecting what is most important to them.
In contrast, positivists reject that the lack of standardisation of unstructured interviews, too subjective + unreliable for establishing patterns or testing theories.