Semi-structured interview

A semi-structured interview is a method of research used most often in the social sciences. While a structured interview has a rigorous set of questions which does not allow one to divert, a semi-structured interview is open, allowing new ideas to be brought up during the interview as a result of what the interviewee says. The interviewer in a semi-structured interview generally has a framework of themes to be explored.

Semi-structured interviews are widely used in qualitative research;^[1] for example in household research, such as couple interviews. A semi-structured interview involving, for example, two spouses can result in "the production of rich data, including observational data."^[2]

References

^ Edwards, R; Holland, J (2013). What is qualitative interviewing?. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 2–3. ISBN 9781849668095.
^ Bjørnholt, M; Farstad, G.R. (2012). "'Am I rambling?' On the advantages of interviewing couples together" (PDF). Qualitative Research. 14 (1): 3–19. doi:10.1177/1468794112459671.

External links

Semi-structured interview at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations's website

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[E-H-2013-1] Edwards, R; Holland, J (2013). What is qualitative interviewing?. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 2–3. ISBN 9781849668095.

[B-F-2012-2] Bjørnholt, M; Farstad, G.R. (2012). "'Am I rambling?' On the advantages of interviewing couples together" (PDF). Qualitative Research. 14 (1): 3–19. doi:10.1177/1468794112459671.

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