Qualitative Research Basics: A Guide for Engineering Educators

• Structured: In this type of interview the interview questions are defined in
advance. The answers are generally intended to be short and fit into predetermined
categories. This type of interview allows for standardization across all
interviews, but does not allow unexpected information to be obtained.
• Semi-structured: The most common type of qualitative interview, it involves
pre-determined, open-ended questions, but also allows the interviewer to explore
themes that emerge during the interview process. Thus, the interviewer can ensure
that certain key elements are covered, but allow flexibility.
• Unstructured: Unstructured interviews provide the most flexibility, but are also
the most difficult to conduct. Unstructured interviews can be either formal or
informal. The formal interview occurs in a setting in which there is a clear
interviewer/interviewee relationship. The interviewer only has a few, “grand tour”
questions prepared in advance to guide the interview process. The interviewer acts
primarily as a guide, allowing the participant to explore the areas defined by these
questions. The informal interview typically occurs in ethnographic studies in the
natural setting (e.g. a street corner, a bar, etc.). The interviewer may have general
topics to explore, but there are no pre-determined questions or categories.
Each of these types of interviews has its own purpose. As explained by Fontana and Frey
(2005), the difference between structured and unstructured interviews is, “The former
aims at capturing precise data of a codable nature so as to explain behavior within
preestablished categories, whereas the latter attempts to understand the complex behavior
of members of society without imposing any a priori categorization that may limit the
field of inquiry” (p. 706). In reality, these types of interviews only represent specific
points on a continuum, and the level of structure in an interview depends on the needs of
the particular study.
Another way of categorizing interviews is by whom is being interviewed, an individual or
a group. The group interview, or focus group, can be a powerful tool for gaining
information not accessible in individual interviews. Quite often interactions between
group members stimulate memories and ideas that would not have surfaced in an
individual interview (Fontana & Frey, 2005). Group interviews can be especially useful
for making apparent the views, perceptions, and motivations of the participants (Punch,
1998). However, there are some pitfalls inherent in the group interview. These include:
some members of the group may dominate the conversation; some members may be
reluctant to participate in the conversation; and there is the potential for “groupthink” to
occur, which limits the information that is obtained (Fontana & Frey, 2005). From the
interviewer’s standpoint, the group interview is more difficult to conduct than the
individual interview and requires more practice and experience.
Interview Questions
In preparing for an interview, it is important to develop a set of interview questions (often
called an interview guide or protocol) that is consistent with the type of interview you
intend to conduct and that will result in data that will answer your research questions.
There are several types of questions that have varying levels of specificity. Grand tour
24