Informal Interviews (AQA A Level Sociology): Revision Note
Exam code: 7192
Unstructured interviews
Unstructured (or informal) interviews are flexible, open-ended conversations that allow the interviewer and participant to explore topics in depth
They are particularly useful when the topic is new or not well understood
Unstructured interviews are favoured by interpretivist sociologists who seek verstehen (deep understanding of meaning and context)
Key features include:
flexible questions that are not pre-determined
The structure is loose, so the respondent has freedom to express themselves in their own words
interviewer-led probing that allows for clarification, follow-ups, and the exploration of new ideas as they emerge
collection of qualitative data that provides in-depth insights into the respondent’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences
Evaluation of unstructured interviews
Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Flexibility – interviewers can clarify questions, explore new topics, and ask probing follow-ups, improving depth. | Time-consuming and expensive – interviews take longer and require skilled, paid interviewers. |
Rich, qualitative data – respondents can speak freely in their own words, revealing personal meanings and experiences. | Low reliability – the lack of standardisation means responses are hard to replicate across different interviews. |
High validity – open-ended responses allow deeper understanding of complex behaviours, attitudes, and emotions. | Low generalisability – small, unrepresentative samples make it hard to apply findings to the wider population. |
Rapport and sensitivity – strong interviewer-interviewee relationships help uncover sensitive or personal topics. | Interviewer effect – tone, appearance, or leading questions may influence answers and reduce validity. |
The interviewee’s perspective – interviewees can raise issues the researcher hadn’t considered, making data more insightful. | Social desirability bias – participants may give answers they believe are expected or acceptable. |
Favoured by feminists and interpretivists – seen as a more equal, empathetic method that values respondents’ voices. | Training requirements – interviewers need good interpersonal and interpretive skills, which increase costs and complexity. |
Group interviews & focus groups
Group interviews involve interviewing several participants together
A focus group is a specific type of group interview where participants are encouraged to discuss a set topic in detail
These methods are often used to explore attitudes, experiences and how people interact within the group and respond to each other's views
They are usually associated with qualitative rather than quantitative research and are sometimes used with other research methods
Key features include:
being conducted with multiple participants at the same time
being used in education research to explore peer group dynamics or classroom experiences
the researcher acting as a facilitator, prompting discussion rather than following a set of fixed questions
encouraging interaction between participants, which can reveal shared norms and values
Evaluation of group interviews & focus groups.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Range of perspectives – researchers gain access to a variety of experiences, attitudes, and viewpoints on the topic. | Dominant participants – stronger personalities may take over the discussion, silencing quieter group members. |
Efficient – interviewing multiple people at once saves time and reduces costs compared to individual interviews. | Group dynamics – participants may influence each other’s responses or conform to the group’s opinions. |
Supportive environment – some individuals feel more comfortable discussing sensitive experiences in a group. | Practical challenges – managing a group discussion can be difficult, especially on emotional or controversial topics. |
Idea generation – group interaction may spark new topics or concepts that the researcher hadn’t previously considered. | Hard to transcribe – overlapping dialogue can make accurate recording and analysis difficult. |
Natural interaction – encourages spontaneous discussion, helping to reveal social norms or shared understandings. | Ethical issues – confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when participants hear each other’s contributions. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When answering an essay question on structured vs unstructured interviews, make sure you go beyond simply listing strengths and weaknesses:
Compare the two directly – highlight how structured interviews are reliable and easy to replicate, while unstructured interviews are valid and allow for deeper understanding
Apply theoretical perspectives – positivists favour structured interviews for their objectivity; interpretivists prefer unstructured interviews for exploring meanings
Use examples – refer to research studies or topics in education (e.g., teacher-student interaction) to show how each method is applied in practice
Evaluate in context – consider practical issues like cost, time, and access, as well as ethical concerns such as confidentiality and protection from harm
Structuring your answer this way will show critical thinking and secure marks in the higher bands.
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