Critically examining the use of semi-structured interviews within qualitative research
Qualitative research refers to understanding of study queries as the idealistic concept. Qualitative research is used to recognize people’s experience, beliefs, interaction, behavior and attitude through non-numerical data. The incorporation of qualitative research includes intervention of studies in research approach that is ahead raising concentration across disciplines. Qualitative methods are identified for its competence to add new measurement to interventional researches that cannot be gained through dimension of variables alone (Adeoye?Olatunde and Olenik, 2021). Semi-structured interview within qualitative research refers to methods that combine a prearranged set of open ended questions with the capability for the interviewer to examine exacting themes, patterns and answer for further study. Within semi-structured interview participants and interviewer engage within a formal procedure. The interviewer creates as well as uses an interview guide with the list of questions that are open ended. This includes topics that require to be covered throughout the process in a particular order. These open ended questions analyze the study under investigation which offers prospectus for both respondents as well as interviewer to talk about some areas in more details.
The investigator follows the guide and capacity to follow pertinent line of enquiry in the discussion that might stray from the conduct when they feel this is suitable. The flexible structure of the interview facilitate the investigator to motivated the participants of they necessitate more information. This technique provides interviewer the freedom to explore the respondent to enlarge new line of query introduction (Magaldi and Berler, 2020). This interview method also facilitate participants the freedom to articulate their opinions in own situations. Semi structure interview works best when the respondent has a number of areas to be sure that needs to be addressed and when this includes more individuals in implementing the interview procedure. This method is more flexible and open that help researcher to collect information to support fine tune to supple market research approach. Investigator is in more favor to use this research because this allows them use questions that are already prepared. This facilitate interviewer to be appear and prepared competent at the time of interview procedure. These interviews are processed through observation that allows the investigator to expand better understanding of the objectives of the study. This requires for expanding relevant as well as meaningful questions that are semi structured.
Carrying out an interview conduct begins with outlining the research topic that has been included. This is connected with the research questions that are relevant and are understood by the respondents (Moustakas et al, 2020). Questions are in the form of concise manner which can easily be answered and does not consume more time of both investigator and participants. Semi-structured interview are conducted with more realistic and simple language questions that are easily understood by the respondents. This helps the researcher to gain better information about the research topic. A better interview guide helps in carrying out conversation naturally or effectually. Semi-structures interview is useful method when interviewee has best knowledge of questions. Nevertheless, this interview method can be challenging to conduct appropriately because of its delicate balance of impulsive and initial planning. Every interviewee is unique in their willingness to share opinions (Husband, 2020). This can be challenging for both unbiased and encouraging.
Participants’ responses can help investigator in the future research questions and helps them to expand more robust knowledge as a base for future study. It is critical for interviewee to remain develop and organized for monitoring the respondents answers. On the other hand, in semi-structured interview questions are less due to this data analysis and collection becomes more complex (Ruslin et al, 2022). This interview method is mostly adopted because this combines elements of both unstructured and structured interviews that provides more reliable, comparable and flexibility to researcher for asking questions. This method has a capability to design thematic analysis that keeps both participant and researcher to reduce distraction while promoting two way communication strategies. However, the open ended questions can also lead to temptation to ask leading questions which carry out observer bias (George, 2023). On the other hand, respondents may also look for want they want to hear which leads to respond differently and create bias.
Semi-structured interviews explore more detailed as well as richness because of the more open ended nature. Respondents can be asked to elaborate, simplify and also allows them to rephrase their responses if required (Belina, 2023). On the critical note, the flexible nature of semi-structured interview reduces the reliability and validity of the topic. This can sometimes be problematic to contrast answers among respondents on the basis of how far the investigator departed from the prepared list of questions.
The semi-structured interview allows both interviewer and interviewee to ask questions as well as construct a rapport. This format also assists in helping respondents to feel relaxed and more comfortable throughout the process. A communication environment focusing on discussing background, experience as well as goals makes it easier to conduct the qualitative research. On the contradictory note, semi-structured interview method adopts more conversational as well as flexible approach that is more long term than the scripted interview procedure (Mahat-Shamir et al, 2021). Investigator asking respondents open ended questions facilitate them to offer details as well as more insightful answers. In some situations, a lengthy interview is a positive sign for some respondents because this may point out that the participant enjoyed the method and want to spend more time for further discussion.
Semi-structured interview allows the investigator to select particular set of questions which should be asked to the respondent. The researcher can also create special and organic questions to ask each participant on the basis of flow of conversation as well as their application. This structure facilitate interviewer to relate with participant individually. However, when researcher follows a prearranged format of questions can lead to skip some significant questions when the conversation turns into different direction (Romito et al, 2021). Following the stripe of conversation might not facilitate them to ask some arranged questions.
The semi-structured method typically applies open ended conversation when evaluating respondents. As an outcome, the researcher can learn more about each respondent as well as the way them robust into the study. Nevertheless, this is not obligatory for the researcher within qualitative research to ask the same questions in the semi-structured sequence. This lacks the uniformity that creates uncertain bias because of avoiding asking particular questions. Data loss can potentially occur when conducting semi-structured interview because of unfeasibility. Another reason is that they are conducted through online platforms that can face data loss. Further, other challenge is language barrier that can be affected by the use of various technologies and new techniques that can lead to inappropriate data (van Dorp et al, 2023). The language barrier challenge can be solved through employing translators that further pose the risk of real meaning of the questions.
Semi-structured interview is practical method for evaluating in-depth conversations. This allows researcher to inspect the communication as well as diverse primary external responses throughout the semi structured interview to appear at comprehensive analysis. The investigator can additionally follows the both verbal and non-verbal answers that include calmness, hilarity, hunches to open hidden data that can turn into helpful data analysis of a range of themes taken out from the two way communication. The researcher can create various patterns and themes to bring more flexibility. The investigator can talk about on a range of topics with various themes and objective within semi-structured interview. The interactive nature of this method offers room for complimentary answers from the participants (De Paoli, 2023). The investigator recommends that the expansion of computer supported qualitative analysis using flexible policy on the basis of well implied themes.
On the critical note, limited understanding of the objectives during semi-structured interviews can affect the overall result. Research included with many non-respondents can otherwise consequence in population underrepresentation required to carry out. Poor responses can harm the process to the huge extend because that can result into standard superiority when researcher loses track of unintended form of limited conversation. Sometimes partial answers from interlocutors can be result from distinct cultural values. This is essential to consider cultural values for building good relations with respondents before the semi structured interview for an improved revealing communication (Semi-Structured Interviews, 2018). Conducting semi-structured interview can sometime obligate third party approval when high profile respondents are the sample that leads to inconvenience in carrying out the interview process.
Data on the topics though semi structured interviews are evaluated in natural manner. As well executed semi-structured interview can preferably draw from respondents’ internal voice when active contribution from both is in progress. Semi-structured interview also offered rich framework as well as was easier to procedure because of single option for being familiar with locations retrospectively (Falter et al, 2022). An active listening is a significant skill to the quality semi-structured interview method is not ideal to carry out grouped interview. Investigating including a range of individuals can otherwise make use of skills from other techniques like focused group discussions.
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References
Books and Journals
Adeoye?Olatunde, O.A. and Olenik, N.L., 2021. Research and scholarly methods: Semi?structured interviews. Journal of the american college of clinical pharmacy, 4(10), pp.1358-1367.
Belina, A., 2023. Semi-structured interviewing as a tool for understanding informal civil society. Voluntary Sector Review, 14(2), pp.331-347.
De Paoli, S., 2023. Performing an Inductive Thematic Analysis of Semi-Structured Interviews With a Large Language Model: An Exploration and Provocation on the Limits of the Approach. Social Science Computer Review, p.08944393231220483.
Falter, M., Scherrenberg, M., Kindermans, H., Kizilkilic, S., Kaihara, T. and Dendale, P., 2022. Willingness to participate in cardiac telerehabilitation: results from semi-structured interviews. European Heart Journal-Digital Health, 3(1), pp.67-76.
Husband, G., 2020. Ethical data collection and recognizing the impact of semi-structured interviews on research respondents. Education Sciences, 10(8), p.206.
Magaldi, D. and Berler, M., 2020. Semi-structured interviews. Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences, pp.4825-4830.
Mahat-Shamir, M., Neimeyer, R.A. and Pitcho-Prelorentzos, S., 2021. Designing in-depth semi-structured interviews for revealing meaning reconstruction after loss. Death studies, 45(2), pp.83-90.
Moustakas, E., Lamba, N., Mahmoud, D. and Ranganathan, C., 2020, June. Blurring lines between fiction and reality: Perspectives of experts on marketing effectiveness of virtual influencers. In 2020 International Conference on Cyber Security and Protection of Digital Services (Cyber Security) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
Romito, M., Salk, R.H., Roberts, S.R., Thoma, B.C., Levine, M.D. and Choukas-Bradley, S., 2021. Exploring transgender adolescents’ body image concerns and disordered eating: Semi-structured interviews with nine gender minority youth. Body Image, 37, pp.50-62.
Ruslin, R., Mashuri, S., Rasak, M.S.A., Alhabsyi, F. and Syam, H., 2022. Semi-structured Interview: A methodological reflection on the development of a qualitative research instrument in educational studies. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME), 12(1), pp.22-29.
van Dorp, M., Nijhof, K.S., Popma, A. and Mulder, E.A., 2023. Common elements to reduce seclusion in child and adolescent residential care settings: A synthesis of literature and semi-structured interviews. Children and Youth Services Review, p.107231.
