Self-report: Interviews (AQA A Level Psychology)

Structured & unstructured interviews

• An interview is a type of  self-report which involves a participant answering a range of questions put to them by a researcher

  • It is a one-to-one process (though it can happen over a phone, online or via other remote channels)

• Interviews are designed to collect the thoughts, feelings, attitudes and opinions of the participant

• Interviews may be chosen as the appropriate research method

  • When the researcher wishes to understand how people feel about issues such as immigration, social media, the cost of living etc.

  • As part of a larger case study into the unique experience/condition of one participant (or a small group) 

Structured interviews

• In a structured interview

  • the researcher uses a series of pre-prepared closed or open questions (or a combination of both)

  • the participant's responses are written down by the researcher (or recorded using audio/visual equipment)

  • the researcher does not veer from the ‘script’ which is why this type of interview is known as a structured interview

  • quantitative data is collected e.g.

    • the number of ‘yes’ responses to a specific question

  • qualitative data in the form of ‘follow-up’ questions can also be collated e.g.

    • Can you explain why you feel like that?

Evaluation of structured interviews

Strengths

• The use of standardised questions means that the interview can be replicated and used by different researchers

  • This minimises the researcher effect as all researchers have to 'stick to the script' as it were rather than pursuing responses they find interesting

• Structured interviews may generate more quantitative data than unstructured interviews

  • This means that the results can be statistically analysed

  • This in turn increases the reliability of the findings

Limitations

• A predetermined set of questions may be restrictive

  • The participant may say something which should be explored further but the format of the structured interview does not allow this

  • This limits the usefulness of the method

Unstructured interviews

• In an  unstructured interview

  • the researcher comes to the interview with no pre-prepared set of questions

    • They keep an open mind as to how the interview will proceed

  • the researcher writes down (or records using audio/visual equipment) the participant’s responses

  • the interview is treated as a conversation, giving the participants as much freedom as they wish in their responses

• Unstructured interviews will generally start with the researcher asking an open question or posing an idea and then allowing the participant to give a free response. e.g.

  • Lots of people think that there should be harsher punishments for criminals….what do you think?

  • Tell me about a time when you felt anxious about an exam

  • Social media seems to dominate some people’s lives…

• Unstructured interviews produce qualitative data only

• Unstructured interviews are also known as narrative interviews as the interview is more like the participant telling a story

  • Both researcher and participant have ‘creative freedom’ as it were

Evaluation of unstructured interviews

Strengths

• Unstructured interviews are high in ecological validity

  • Participants have complete freedom to respond in any way they choose

  • The interview is tailored towards them as an individual

  • Thoughts, feelings, fears, hopes and emotions can all be openly expressed by the participant with no manipulation from the researcher

• The researcher has the flexibility to pursue any interesting topics that emerge during the interview

  • The topic can be discussed from several different perspectives

  • The original topic can even be abandoned if the participant takes the interview into new and interesting territory

  • This flexibility is a strength as it may open up new insight into what is being researched

Limitations

• The very free-flowing and unpredictable nature of unstructured interviews means that the entire process may become derailed

  • The participant may wish to go into depth and detail on topics which are irrelevant to the research

  • The participant may change tack frequently, mixing up timelines, confusing details, getting 'lost' in their narrative

  • This limits the reliability of unstructured interviews

• The researcher may lose their objectivity due to the intimate nature of unstructured interviews, particularly if more than one interview session is required

  • They begin to feel too close to the participant

  • They may begin to identify with the participant

  • They may wish to present the participant in the best possible light (social desirability bias)

  • This would mean that the validity of the interview was compromised

Designing interviews

• Interviews require face-to-face communication which is usually conducted by one researcher and one participant

  • The interview schedule will determine

    • the nature and number of questions to be asked

    • the type of interview to use

    • who is best to run the interview (if more than one researcher is involved in the research)

  • The researchers should use reflexivity even at this early stage of the process

• It is important to find an environment in which the participant feels safe and is happy to disclose what may be sensitive information depending on the topic being explored

  • A neutral room in a quiet location with comfortable seating is ideal

• The researcher must establish rapport with the participant before the interview begins so that the participant feels relaxed and that they can trust the researcher

  • This might take the form of informal chatting about the weather, holiday plans, their journey to the location etc.

  • The participant will be given a consent form, told that they have the right to withdraw at any point and assured of confidentiality and anonymity

• Once rapport has been established the interviewer asks the participant questions and the participant answers these questions

  • The researcher must ensure that they have a reliable way of recording the participant's responses e.g.

    • written notes

    • use of a recording device such as a dictaphone or mobile phone

    • use of video if, for example, the researcher is interested in observing the participant's non-verbal communication

• The researcher must make sure that their questions are clear, coherent and on-topic

• The researcher must ensure that they do not pass judgment on the participant or make them feel at all uncomfortable or compromised throughout the interview