Answer to Question #250592 in Sociology for Kea

Question

Critically discuss the process of interviewing in qualitative social research including its limitations.

Answer 1

In some instances, qualitative interviews are referred to as extensive or in-depth interviews. Because the researcher has a specific subject for the respondent, these interviews are called semi-structured, but questions are open-ended and may not be asked in the same way or sequence. The fundamental objective of an in-depth interview is to learn what respondents think is essential about the subject at hand in their own words. We'll look at how to conduct qualitative interviews, evaluate interview data, and the method's strengths and shortcomings in this part.

Qualitative interviews have several drawbacks, including reliance on respondents' correctness and their intensity in terms of time, cost, and potential emotional strain.

Qualitative interviews are not only time-consuming but also emotionally draining.

The process of creating an interview guide, identifying a sample, and conducting interviews is only the beginning. Transcribing interviews is time-consuming—and that's before you start coding.