Question

Identify three possible interview structures, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Answer 1

1.

Structured interviews are the ones in which the questionnaire has a definite structure and every interviewee is posed to the same questions and in the same order. It is a quantitative method of interviewing. There are the following advantages and disadvantages of the structured interview:

Advantages:

i. The standardized structure of the interview makes the interview process efficient.

ii. Since questions are the same, therefore, answers can be compared and trends can be observed.

Disadvantages:

i. The interview process is time-consuming.

ii. The interviewee is likely to misrepresent the truth to make himself more socially acceptable.

2.

Unstructured interviews are those in which questionnaire has multiple structures and every interviewee is posed to different questions and in a different order. It is a qualitative method of interviewing. There are the following advantages and disadvantages of the unstructured interview:

Advantages:

i. These interviews are flexible in nature as questions can be adapted as per need and requirement.

ii. These interviews provide qualitative data that helps the interviewee/researcher to make a further decision.

Disadvantages:

i. It is a time-consuming affair to conduct such interviews and analyze the data.

ii. The information collected may be vast and unrelated to the purpose.

3.

Panel interviews are the ones in which a group of people sit and ask questions to a single interviewee. It is done to gain multiple perspectives about the candidature of the interviewee. There are the following advantages and disadvantages of the panel interview:

Advantages:

i. These interviews are more reliable as many interviewers sit and judge the candidature of a candidate.

ii. It saves the time of the interviewee and interviewers as interviewers can sit together and take the interview in a single sitting.

Disadvantages:

i. It makes the interviewee more nervous especially if questions are asked at a rapid pace.

ii. These interviews have time constraints and therefore allow a limited number of questions to be asked.