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Research Methods Topic

The learning units in this topic are concerned with how you will be doing your research. There is a very wide range of research methods available to you, and you will have to spend some time deciding which method or methods are the most appropriate, both with regard to your topic and to the approach you have decided to take. If you are a student in the physical sciences then you will probably find you tend toward quantitative or positivist methods. If you are studying the social sciences then qualitative or interpretive methods may be more appropriate. But this is a generalization, and much of the really interesting and innovative research uses a blend of both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Research methods > Interviewing > A comparison of interview types

A comparison of interview types

The table below summarises the main comparative points between the different types of interview.

Structured

Semi-structured

Unstructured

  • closed questions
  • pre-set questions
  • pre-coding of answers
  • quantitative analysis possible
  • easy to maintain control of the interview
  • closed and open questions
  • some pre-set questions
  • pre-coding of some answers
  • some quantitative analysis may be possible
  • some good interviewing skills required to maintain control of interview
  • open questions
  • pre-set opening question or area of investigation
  • little or no pre-coding possible
  • quantitative analysis not possible
  • good interviewing skills required in order to maintain control of the interview
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