Data Collection Technique in Qualitative Research:
Interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
INTERVIEW
Structured Interview
● All the questions needed to help the researcher's research should have been written or
compiled before an interview takes place. Accordingly, the informant or participant will
only answer questions based on the already prepared questions.
● Answers given by the respondent depend on what is being asked.
○ Open question: the question type is more like an exam. Hence, the answer usually
would be more insightful as the respondent can explore their perspective more.
○ Close question: more or less like a questionnaire. The difference is the answer
will either be yes or no, not numbers.
● In a structured interview, the researcher will be the one who reads the questions and
writes the answers.
● Structured interview guidelines:
○ Before conducting an interview, explain briefly about how the interview will be
conducted, such as how many questions will be asked, what language the
researcher will use, and ask for their consent (most important).
○ Explain the purpose of the research transparently, but briefly, about the research
purpose so they will be aware of how this affects (or not) their life. But,
remember to only inform the necessary part to avoid bias.
○ Conduct the interview in a timely manner and conducive environment.
○ Do not offer help answering the questions and share personal insight.
○ Do not interpret the questions. Researchers can only repeat the question if the
first round is not clear yet.
○ Do not improvise or add more questions when the interview is being held.
● Constraints on structure interview: the respondent might not be fully truthful to avoid
something or design the answer based on personal interest
Unstructured Interviews:
● The interview is conducted in a candid manner. Researcher is not obliged to draft the
question. Meaning, it will be more like a discussion session.
● The shortcoming is this type usually takes a relatively long time because the researcher
should familiarize themselves to the respondents and their environment.
● Benefits:
○ The researcher can gather important information they might miss previously.
○ Respondents can express or reveal something that is not out of the researcher’s
Interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
INTERVIEW
Structured Interview
● All the questions needed to help the researcher's research should have been written or
compiled before an interview takes place. Accordingly, the informant or participant will
only answer questions based on the already prepared questions.
● Answers given by the respondent depend on what is being asked.
○ Open question: the question type is more like an exam. Hence, the answer usually
would be more insightful as the respondent can explore their perspective more.
○ Close question: more or less like a questionnaire. The difference is the answer
will either be yes or no, not numbers.
● In a structured interview, the researcher will be the one who reads the questions and
writes the answers.
● Structured interview guidelines:
○ Before conducting an interview, explain briefly about how the interview will be
conducted, such as how many questions will be asked, what language the
researcher will use, and ask for their consent (most important).
○ Explain the purpose of the research transparently, but briefly, about the research
purpose so they will be aware of how this affects (or not) their life. But,
remember to only inform the necessary part to avoid bias.
○ Conduct the interview in a timely manner and conducive environment.
○ Do not offer help answering the questions and share personal insight.
○ Do not interpret the questions. Researchers can only repeat the question if the
first round is not clear yet.
○ Do not improvise or add more questions when the interview is being held.
● Constraints on structure interview: the respondent might not be fully truthful to avoid
something or design the answer based on personal interest
Unstructured Interviews:
● The interview is conducted in a candid manner. Researcher is not obliged to draft the
question. Meaning, it will be more like a discussion session.
● The shortcoming is this type usually takes a relatively long time because the researcher
should familiarize themselves to the respondents and their environment.
● Benefits:
○ The researcher can gather important information they might miss previously.
○ Respondents can express or reveal something that is not out of the researcher’s
