Conducting Semi‐Structured Interviews

Chapter 19 Conducting Semi-Structured Interviews William C. Adams, William C. AdamsSearch for more papers by this author William C. Adams, William C. AdamsSearch for more papers by this author Book Editor(s):Kathryn E. Newcomer, Kathryn E. NewcomerSearch for more papers by this authorHarry P. Hatry, Harry P. HatrySearch for more papers by this authorJoseph S. Wholey, Joseph S. WholeySearch for more papers by this author First published: 10 August 2015 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119171386.ch19Citations: 95 AboutPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShareShare a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Summary Conducted conversationally with one respondent at a time, the semi-structured interview (SSI) employs a blend of closed- and open-ended questions, often accompanied by follow-up why or how questions. About one hour is considered a reasonable maximum length for SSIs in order to minimize fatigue for both interviewer and respondent. This chapter begins with a discussion on the disadvantages and advantages of SSIs. Despite the disadvantages and costs of SSIs, they offer some extraordinary benefits as well. Semi-structured interviews are superbly suited for a number of valuable tasks, particularly when more than a few of the open-ended questions require follow-up queries. The chapter presents some recommendations that can be considered when constructing an SSI guide. All in all, effectively conducted semi-structured interviews, even though labor intensive, should be worth the effort in terms of the insights and information gained. Citing Literature Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation, Fourth RelatedInformation