Conducting Semi-Structured Interviews
Semi-structured interviews are one of the most popular methods in qualitative research. They combine a planned set of questions with the freedom to follow up on what participants say. In this blog, we'll look at how to prepare, conduct and record a semi-structured interview that gives you rich, usable data.
What Makes an Interview Semi-Structured:
- You use an interview guide with key questions and topics, but you can change the order, rephrase questions and ask follow-up questions.
- This balance lets you cover the same core areas with every participant while still exploring individual experiences in depth.
Preparing Your Interview Guide:
- Base your questions on your research questions and literature review.
- Use open questions that start with "how", "what" or "can you tell me about", rather than questions that invite a yes or no answer.
- Prepare probes such as "Can you give me an example?" or "What happened next?"
- Keep the guide short enough to allow time for follow-up, and pilot it with one or two people.
Before the Interview:
- Obtain ethics approval and prepare your participant information sheet and consent form.
- Agree a quiet, private location or a reliable online platform.
- Ask permission to record, and test your recording equipment beforehand.
During the Interview:
- Start with a brief introduction, confirm consent and begin with an easy, general question to build rapport.
- Listen more than you speak. Allow pauses, as participants often add important detail after a moment of silence.
- Avoid leading questions, and do not share your own opinions in ways that could influence answers.
- Take brief notes on key points or non-verbal cues, but keep your attention on the participant.
- Close by asking whether there is anything else they would like to add, and thank them.
After the Interview:
- Write short reflective notes as soon as possible, recording your impressions and any issues.
- Transcribe the recording, or check any automated transcript carefully against the audio.
- Store recordings and transcripts securely, and remove identifying details as agreed in your consent process.
A good semi-structured interview feels like a focused conversation. Careful preparation, open questions, active listening and secure data handling will help you collect rich data that you can analyse with confidence.