Sociology Plus
Structured Interviewing Definition
Structured interviewing involves a systematic approach where both the instrument, comprising the interview questions, and the interviewer are highly standardised. This methodology is often applied across various contexts, including telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and research associated with surveys. The core aim of this structure is to ensure consistency by preestablishing the questions, limiting the possible responses, and leaving minimal scope for variation, thereby enabling responses to be numerically coded a priori. The interviewer must maintain strict neutrality, adhering precisely to a predetermined sequence of questions and explanations provided in advance, ensuring that no influence or interpretation of the respondent’s answers is introduced. These rigorous controls are implemented to minimise errors and reduce reliance on chance in data collection.
Principles of Structure
The fundamental principle of structured interviewing rests on rigid adherence to established protocols. Interviewers must strictly follow the exact wording and sequence of questions, avoiding any deviation or attempt to interpret the meaning behind a response. Furthermore, the interviewer is required to ensure that no interruption occurs and refrains from showing agreement or disagreement regarding any answers given by the respondent.
Challenges in Implementation
Despite the goal of reducing error, structured interviewing faces several inherent challenges arising from the interaction between the task, the interviewers, and the respondents. Firstly, the close-ended nature of the questions inherently limits the breadth and depth of the answers that can be elicited. Secondly, the interviewers themselves may not remain perfectly neutral; they can be influenced by the surrounding context or variations among different respondents, and there is a risk that interviewers might inadvertently alter the wording of the questions. Thirdly, there is an underlying assumption that respondents will provide truthful and rational answers, free from the influence of personal emotions or agendas.