Semi-structured Interview

Definition

The method of semi-structured interviews is effective when anthropologists collect data from particular individuals by meeting with them only once. During a semi-structured interview, an anthropologist asks an interviewee questions based on a prepared written list of questions and topics. At the same time, the anthropologist encourages the interviewee to freely express ideas and provide information that the interviewee thinks is important. With this flexibility, the researcher can obtain unexpected significant information as well as answers for prepared interview questions. In addition to asking questions, anthropologists usually take notes and audio-record interviews for later analysis. In order to conduct successful semi-structured interviews, anthropologists need to make interviewees feel comfortable about talking.  

Open-ended Questions

Even if anthropologists know what topics they want to ask of informants, how to ask questions is another important issue. In semi-structured interviews, researchers ask open-ended questions, which require descriptive answers. For example, compare the following two questions which are for interviewing a teacher:

  1. Why do you think some students don’t attend classes regularly? (open-ended)

  2. Do you think some students miss classes because they need to work during those hours? (not open-ended)

For question 1, the teacher will freely describe her own reasoning. On the other hand, question 2 may produce a brief answer, “yes” or “no.” Therefore, the interviewer will not know if the teacher thinks of other reasons for absence besides work.

Probing

When people have a conversation, they respond to each other by probing and keep the conversation going. During interviews, anthropologists need to use appropriate probing that encourages interview subjects to talk more. At the same time, their probing should be neutral so that it will not redirect interviewees. Although there are many kinds of probing, this exhibit will introduce two of them.

Silent Probe

When people talk, they occasionally take a pause to gather thoughts and prepare to say something. The silent probe is effective in these moments. An interviewer remains quiet and waits for an informant to continue. This silence may include the interviewer’s nod or an encouraging uh-huh. The silent probe can produce more information than direct questions because the interviewer does not interrupt the interview subject.

Echo Probe

When interviewers use the echo probe, they simply repeat the informants’ phrase and ask them to continue. For example, an interviewer may use the echo probe when interviewing an adult student with small children: “I see, you are done with your classes around two and then pick up your children right away at the daycare. Then what do you do?” This technique is effective when an informant is describing the process of an event.

Informed Consent

Before conducting any interviews, anthropologists need to inform interview subjects of the purpose of the research, the use of data obtained through the interview, and confidentiality and anonymity of information. Most importantly, anthropologists need to let interview subjects know that their participation is voluntary. This process is called informed consent and is mandatory for ethical reasons. Informed consent may also improve the validity of data because an anthropologist assures interviewees of their rights and security.

Sources:

  • Angrosino, Michael V. 2002 Doing Cultural Anthropology: Projects for Ethnographic Data Collection. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press.

  • Bernard, Russell H. 2002 Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press.

  • Ervin, Alexander M. 2000 Applied Anthropology: Tools and Perspectives for Contemporary Practice. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

This page was created by a Minnesota State University, Mankato student. Last updated 11/14/04.