About the lecture

In this lecture, we consider three types of interview commonly used in social research focusing in particular on: (i) the structured interview, which is often associated with the survey method and comprises of closed questions (for example, ticking a box) intended to produce easily comparable and quantifiable data; (ii) the unstructured or focused interview, which is much more open and flexible and is intended to allow respondents to express themselves in their own terms; (iii) the semi-structured interview, which consists of both open and closed questions and is often favoured by researchers because it provides both quantitative data and interpretative understanding.

About the lecturer

Professor Tim May is Honorary Distinguished Professor at Cardiff University. He has a wide range of expertise relating to research methodologies, sociological theory, and the philosophy of social science. His recent publications include Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process (2021, co-authored with Beth Perry), Thinking Sociologically (2019, co-authored with Zygmunt Bauman), Reflexivity: The Essential Guide (2017, co-authored with Beth Perry).