Semi-Structured Interviews
Semi-structured interviews are a qualitative research method that combines elements of both structured and unstructured interviews. In this approach, the interviewer prepares a set of open-ended questions but remains flexible, allowing for spontaneous follow-up questions based on the interviewee's responses. This format encourages a more natural conversation, enabling deeper insights into the participant's thoughts and experiences.
This method is commonly used in fields like sociology, psychology, and market research. It allows researchers to gather rich, detailed information while still maintaining some level of consistency across interviews. Semi-structured interviews are particularly useful when exploring complex topics where predefined answers may not capture the full picture.