Interview questions are usually open-ended questions to gather detailed information. Interviews are an excellent research tool. They allow you to collect valuable information and draw more detailed conclusions than other research methods, taking into account non-verbal cues, spontaneous reactions and emotional responses. The focus group interview is a qualitative approach in which a group of respondents are interviewed together, which is used to gain a deep understanding of social issues.
The method aims to obtain data from a group of individuals selected on purpose, rather than from a sample that is statistically representative of a larger population. In social sciences, interviews are a method of collecting data that involves two or more people exchanging information through a series of questions and answers. The questions are designed by a researcher to obtain information from the interview participants on a specific topic or set of topics. These topics are based on the author's research questions.
Interviews usually involve an in-person meeting between two people (an interviewer and an interviewee), but interviews need not be limited to two people, nor should they be conducted in person. The advantages of interviews include the ability to gather detailed information on research questions. In addition, in this type of primary data collection, the researcher has direct control over the process flow and has the opportunity to clarify certain issues during the process if necessary. The disadvantages, on the other hand, include longer time requirements and the difficulties associated with organizing adequate time with prospective sample group members to conduct interviews.
When conducting interviews, you should have an open mind and refrain from showing any kind of disagreement when the views expressed by the interviewees contradict their own ideas. A researcher can be sure that several rounds of interviews will not be required in the presence of a structure in this type of research interview. Unstructured interviews can be associated with a high level of bias, and comparing the answers given by different respondents is often difficult due to differences in the formulation of the questions. These interviews have the fewest questions, since they lean more towards a normal conversation but with an underlying topic.
The interviewer effect is a type of bias that arises when a characteristic of the interviewer (race, age, gender identity, etc.) Unstructured interviews are sometimes called “discovery interviews” and are more like “guided conservation” than a strict structured interview. For example, the gender, ethnicity, body language, age, and social status of the interview can create an interviewer effect. To summarize the discussion, an effective interview will be one that provides researchers with the data necessary to know the object of study and that this information is applicable to the decisions that researchers make. The main objective of most researchers who use unstructured interviews is to create a link with the respondents, so there are high chances that the respondents will be 100% honest with their answers.
It should be noted that interviews may not be the best method for researching sensitive topics (for example, the role of the interview moderator is to ensure that the group interacts with each other and does not go off topic). Group interviews can sometimes be invalid, as participants may lie to impress other members of the group. Interviews: a method of collecting data that involves two or more people exchanging information through a series of questions and answers. Respected academics warn that “when conducting an interview, the interviewer should try to create a friendly and non-threatening atmosphere.
They are also more valid because they give the interviewer the opportunity to research to obtain a deeper understanding, ask for clarification (&), allow the interviewee to direct the direction of the interview, etc...
