Final answer:
In a structured interview, interviewers ask preplanned, frequently close-ended questions, following a systematic approach to ensure comparability across all participants, often used in surveys.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a structured interview, specific preplanned questions are asked, frequently close-ended. This interviewing technique ensures that every participant is asked the same questions in the same order, allowing the researcher to maintain a systematic approach.
Structured interviews are characterized by their format where the interviewer follows a prearranged list of questions, which are often close-ended to facilitate easy comparison of responses and scoring. This contrasts with unstructured interviews, which resemble more open-ended, conversational formats. During a structured interview, the interviewer might pose questions that require short, direct responses such as yes/no or choices among given options. This method is suitable for situations in which comparability of responses and efficiency are essential. Recognized for its predictive validity, structured interviews have been found to be effective in evaluating job candidates or surveying populations to collect quantifiable data.
A typical application of structured interviews is in surveys where a large number of respondents need to be evaluated in a uniform manner to assess their attitudes, beliefs, or habits. By using a standardized form of questioning, researchers facilitate the tabulation and interpretation of data, which can then be compiled to draw meaningful conclusions on the subject of interest.