A critical investigation of the merits and drawbacks of in-depth interviews

Seminar Paper , 2007 , 11 Pages , Grade: 1,2

Tourism - Miscellaneous

When commencing to plan a study, researchers face the oftentimes challenging
task to decide on the adequate research method for their investigation problem
at hand. Since the appropriateness of a study, as well as its ability to be
accepted as scientific research, depend very much on the correct choice of the
applied research method(s), the decision process for the latter constitutes a
crucial phase of the overall research operation.
As many researchers encounter ambiguities when it comes to selecting the
suitable research technique, this paper provides a critical reflection on several
arguments for and against the employment of in-depth interviews, one of the
most common tools used in qualitative research.
The aim of this paper is, therefore, to consider the strengths and weaknesses of
in-depth interviews from various angles, in order to advance the perspicuity of
the question in which situations it is apt to use interviews as a research tool and
when to better search for alternative methods.
To arrive at this objective, four main issues have been explored through a
review of already existing literature. First, the merits of individual in-depth
interviews are examined. Then the paper addresses the question of what
possible drawbacks one may come across when selecting in-depth interviewing
as a research method. Furthermore, a short comment on the application of indepth
interviews in qualitative tourism research is given. Finally, in the
conclusions/recommendations section it is explained for which types of
investigations the in-depth interview is the appropriate research technique.
As indicated above, the main focus of this paper is not on providing a guide for
the general set-up and implication process of an in-depth interview. The main
spotlight is rather on the enhancement of the detailed knowledge of researchers
on in-depth interviews, with the ultimate goal to make a contribution to increase
the number of cases where research methods have been appropriately chosen.
Hence, a certain level of previous knowledge about in-depth interviewing is
expected from the reader in order to be able to follow the content of this paper.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 The benefits of individual in-depth interviews
2.1 General aspects
2.2 The depth of data and the focus on perceptions
2.3 Individuality of in-depth interviews
2.4 Involvement of the researcher

3 Possible drawbacks of in-depth interviewing
3.1 Costs and time
3.2 Interviewer bias and interpretation
3.3 Simplification of complexity through themes
3.4 Limitation of cases and lack of interaction with peers

4 Excursion: The application of in-depth interviews in tourism research

5 Conclusions / Recommendations: When to use or avoid in-depth interviews

Reference List

Bibliography

1 Introduction

When commencing to plan a study, researchers face the oftentimes challenging task to decide on the adequate research method for their investigation problem at hand. Since the appropriateness of a study, as well as its ability to be accepted as scientific research, depend very much on the correct choice of the applied research method(s), the decision process for the latter constitutes a crucial phase of the overall research operation.

As many researchers encounter ambiguities when it comes to selecting the suitable research technique, this paper provides a critical reflection on several arguments for and against the employment of in-depth interviews, one of the most common tools used in qualitative research.

The aim of this paper is, therefore, to consider the strengths and weaknesses of in-depth interviews from various angles, in order to advance the perspicuity of the question in which situations it is apt to use interviews as a research tool and when to better search for alternative methods.

To arrive at this objective, four main issues have been explored through a review of already existing literature. First, the merits of individual in-depth interviews are examined. Then the paper addresses the question of what possible drawbacks one may come across when selecting in-depth interviewing as a research method. Furthermore, a short comment on the application of in-depth interviews in qualitative tourism research is given. Finally, in the conclusions/recommendations section it is explained for which types of investigations the in-depth interview is the appropriate research technique.

As indicated above, the main focus of this paper is not on providing a guide for the general set-up and implication process of an in-depth interview. The main spotlight is rather on the enhancement of the detailed knowledge of researchers on in-depth interviews, with the ultimate goal to make a contribution to increase the number of cases where research methods have been appropriately chosen.

Hence, a certain level of previous knowledge about in-depth interviewing is expected from the reader in order to be able to follow the content of this paper.

2 The benefits of individual in-depth interviews

2.1 General aspects

While other research methods, as for instance focus groups, are more common and popular among many research communities all around the world due to various, sometimes arguable advantages (e.g. time restraints or costs), the individual in-depth interview offers the unique possibility for the respondent to:

- really analyse – frequently for the first time – the motivations for a particular action
- feel empowered due to the unusualness of being listened to, combined with the anonymity afforded (Berent 1966, n.p.a. quoted in Stokes/Bergin 2006, p. 28).

This stated feeling of empowerment of the respondent leads to a benefit for the researcher that cannot be obtained through other means of questioning people, namely the advantage that the respondents talk freely and very detailed about their experiences.

2.2 The depth of data and the focus on perceptions

The above mentioned level of detail of the information obtained, as well as its clarity, is generally regarded as the most important reasoning for the employment of in-depth interviews as a research tool.

It is widely accepted that with in-depth interviews the researcher is able to investigate on the respondents' attitudinal level to a higher extent than it is possible with alternative research methods (Stokes/Bergin 2006, p. 33).

CROUCH and McKENZIE (2006, p. 485) suggest that "[in-depth interviews] target the respondents' perceptions and feelings rather than the social conditions surrounding those experiences".

This focus on the individual perceptions, subjective in nature, combined with the fact that with personal interviews all group-related patterns of behaviour are eliminated, allows the researcher to get a deep and above all authentic insight on how the subjects act and react in certain situations.

To mention this as a relevant strength of in-depth interviews is of prime importance, since there are no other research tools available that dispose of such an "ability to get at nuances and subtleties of meaning" (Tull and Hawkins 1993, n.p.a.; Denzin and Lincoln 2003, n.p.a. quoted in Stokes/Bergin 2006, p. 31).

2.3 Individuality of in-depth interviews

"In-depth interviews vary from interview to interview; they take on a life of their own" (Veal 2006, p. 199).

The fact that every in-depth interview is unique constitutes an advantage for the researcher in so far as similarities between the statements can be valued as more significant, since the depth of the data allows assessing the relevance of the information better than, say, the results produced from a formal questionnaire, where no detailed information is available on why a particular answer was given.

2.4 Involvement of the researcher

It is common to conduct more than one in-depth interview with the same interviewee and that the researcher encourages the respondent to talk freely. Thus, such conversations can at times largely digress from the original topic, and the subject may add details that may not seem to be important at first sight, but can contribute significantly to the larger picture which is built up about a situation (McCormack 2004, p. 234).

Consequently, in-depth interviews provide a means for the researcher to get a deep insight into the whole story, which empowers them to become an active part of the research process. This in turn makes it much easier to guide the interview into the correct direction in order to get to know the detailed mindset of the respondent on a particular issue.

Furthermore, such in-depth insight and the involvement of the researcher significantly increase the reliability of the conducted research (Dreher 1994, p. 286).

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• College: University of applied sciences
• Course: Tourism and Leisure Studies
• Grade: 1,2
• Author: B.A. Manuel Kaar (Author)
• Publication Year: 2007
• Pages: 11
• Catalog Number: V136975
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640455317
• ISBN (Book): 9783640455454
• Language: English