Understanding the Definition of Structured Interviews in Sociology
Definition of Structured Interviews in Sociology
A structured interview is one where the interviewer sticks rigidly to a pre-written set of questions. It is effectively an individually-administered questionnaire and could have open or closed questions or a mixture of both.
Additionally, a structured interview is a data collection method that relies on asking questions in a set order to collect data on a topic. It is one of four types of interviews and is a quantitative research method commonly employed in survey research. The aim of this approach is to ensure that each interview is conducted in the same manner, allowing for consistency and objectivity.
In social surveys, structured interviews are the main context in which researchers will conduct their assessments. While similar to questionnaires and surveys, structured interviews introduce more nuance and richness to the topic being studied without representing too much more work for the interviewer.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Structured Interviews
- Advantages:
- One advantage of a structured interview over a questionnaire is that there will be a high response rate, and people are more likely to give honest responses. Compared with semi-structured or unstructured interviews, they can be more reliable, as the exact same interview can be repeated.
- The fixed nature of structured interviews reduces context effects and other biases. Asking the same questions in the same order to all participants minimizes the risk of introducing bias via the order or nature of questions asked, or via any environmental factors.
- Due to their carefully predetermined nature, structured interviews are thought to be more credible than other types of interviews.
- Disadvantages:
- A disadvantage compared with other types of interview is that it is much less valid. The interviewer has to persist with a particular line of questioning even if the interviewee has other interesting things to say.
- The rigidity of structured interviews means that there is very little opportunity to build rapport between the interviewer and the participant.
Structure and Format of Structured Interviews
A structured interview is a conversation in which an interviewer asks an interviewee set questions in a standardized order. As far as possible, the interviewer asks the same questions in the same order and the same way to all candidates. Answers to structured interviews are usually closed, or pre-coded, and the interviewer ticks the appropriate box according to the respondents’ answers. However, some structured interviews may be open-ended, in which case the interviewer writes in the answers for the respondent.
Lastly, structured interviews are the most systematized type of interview. In contrast to semi-structured or unstructured interviews, the interviewer uses predetermined questions in a set order. Asking set questions in a set order allows you to easily compare responses between participants in a uniform context.
More — Structured Interviews in Psychology: Definition, Role, and Comparison with Other Types
Key Characteristics and Benefits of Structured Interviews
Key Characteristics of Structured Interviews
- A structured interview is an employment assessment tool where every part of the process is kept consistent.
- All candidates are asked the same questions.
- Responses are evaluated against the same role-related criteria using a predefined rating system.
- Structured interviews utilize predetermined questions in a specific order, often comprising closed-ended questions.
- They create a more efficient process for the recruitment team.
- Standardized scoring methods are employed to reduce bias in the evaluation process.
- Highly structured interviews minimize the role of clinical judgment, yielding more objective and reliable data.
Benefits of Structured Interviews
- Structured interviews promote fairness and objectivity, accurately assessing candidates’ potential job performance.
- Research indicates they can predict job performance with between .55 and .70 validity on a standalone basis.
- They produce fully-comparable responses, making it easier to move the right candidates forward.
- Standardized questions support efficiency and allow for continuous assessment of the relevance and usefulness of questions.
- They reduce biased opinions of potential candidates and create less stress for the interviewer.
- Structured interviews are also more legally defensible and can be readily repeated for confirmation.
- They are effective in assessing both hard skills (e.g., technical capabilities) and soft skills (e.g., teamwork, resilience).
- Candidate experience may improve, as structured interviews provide a professional, competency-focused environment that gives equal opportunities to succeed.
Considerations
- The formality of structured interviews limits the development of rapport with interviewees.
- There is no flexibility in structured interviews, as interviewers cannot ask questions outside those predefined.
- No opportunity exists to expand on answers or provide context during the interview process.
Comparison of Structured, Semi-Structured, and Unstructured Interviews
Comparison of Structured, Semi-Structured, and Unstructured Interviews
- Structured Interviews: Structured or formal interviews are those in which the interviewer asks the interviewee the same questions in the same way to different respondents.
- This will typically involve reading out questions from a pre-written and pre-coded structured questionnaire, which forms the interview schedule.
- A structured interview is a quantitative research method characterized by the use of a fixed set of pre-planned questions.
- The questions are generally closed-ended, meaning that the responses are limited to specific options, such as yes/no or multiple-choice answers.
- The goal of a structured interview is to ensure that all respondents are asked the same questions in the same order, allowing for easy comparison of responses.
- Structured interviews are one of the most common methods used in sociological research. They involve a standardized set of questions that are asked to each participant in the same way, ensuring consistency in data collection.
- One of the main advantages of structured interviews is the consistency they provide in the data collection process. Since every participant is asked the same questions in the same way, researchers can easily compare the responses across different groups.
- Semi-Structured Interviews: Semi-Structured interviews are those in which respondents have a list of questions, but they are free to ask further, differentiated questions based on the responses given. This allows more flexibility than the structured interview yet more structure than the informal interview.
- Unstructured Interviews: Unstructured or Informal interviews (also called discovery interviews) are more like a guided conversation. Here, the interviewer has a list of topics they want the respondent to talk about. However, the interviewer has complete freedom to vary the specific questions from respondent to respondent, so they can follow whatever lines of enquiry they think are most appropriated, depending on the responses given by each respondent.
How Structured Interviews Enhance Data Collection in Research
Structured interviews are a research method that involves the use of predetermined questions, typically administered face-to-face by a researcher to a respondent. They are widely used by positivist sociologists as they produce reliable data that can be used to test hypotheses.
One of the primary advantages of structured interviews is their cost-effectiveness. They are relatively cheap to conduct, as they do not require the same level of resources as qualitative research methods, such as participant observation or in-depth interviews. As a result, structured interviews are often the preferred research method for sociologists working on a limited budget or for those who need to cover a large sample size.
The standardized nature of structured interviews means that they produce consistent results. This consistency can be replicated by other researchers. The use of standardized questions also means that participants are asked the same questions in the same way, which reduces the potential for interviewer bias and increases the accuracy of their responses. This reliability ensures that the data collected is of high quality, making it more useful for researchers who need to test hypotheses accurately.
Moreover, structured interviews offer several advantages for sociological research:
- Reducing error due to interviewer variability.
- Increasing the accuracy and ease of data processing.
The fixed nature of structured interviews reduces context effects and other biases. Asking the same questions in the same order to all participants minimizes the risk of introducing bias via the order or nature of questions or any environmental factors.
In addition, standardized questions make the process efficient. The structured interview can be easily repeated to check the reliability of the data. They are advantageous due to their replicability and the standardization of data collection, which contributes to the reliability of the findings.
Furthermore, the trained interviewer can rephrase questions or alter the tone or manner to suit the interviewee. This flexibility allows the respondent to give more detailed responses, offering a richer, more comprehensive view of an issue.
