Interviews As A Good Research Method For Writing A Business Dissertation

Interviews provide a perfect opportunity to interact directly with your subjects of interest or people close to them during research. This is a crucial part of your business dissertation writing because it presents an opportunity to test the perception or views on the ground. This is the much needed first hand account that provides legitimacy to your work.

Types of interviews

Based on the type of information, number of respondents and the time available, among other issues, you may select the following types of interviews to use for your business dissertation.

• Structured interviews- The interviewer uses the same number and set of questions asked in a similar manner to all respondents. This gives a higher level of validity to the data collected because a similar set of questions was being used. Using the same questions drastically reduces the possibility of being biased.


• Semi Structured Interview- this is a combination of both structured and unstructured questions. Using the structured questions, unstructured ones emerge as the interviewer fills in the gaps. The unplanned questions are largely based on the answers given on the structured ones. This means that there will be a deviation from the norm and in different directions based on the respondent.


• Unstructured Interview- there is not set of questions with the interview taking a conversational format. It is a very informal way of conducting an interview though it has a place in writing a dissertation. It avoids confinement in the areas you know by allowing you to be led by the information provided by respondents.

Advantages Of Using Interviews

• You have absolute control over the data collection process. You determine the issues that will be discussed and the type of answers you get
• It provides a chance to seek clarification in case some areas are fuzzy
• Issues of interest can be covered in greater depth and with greater clarity

Disadvantages Of Using Interviews

• Interviews are biased based on the past experience of the interviewee and his future plans. This is likely to eat into the objectivity of the answers provided
• Face to face interviews are substantially expensive and time consuming
• The respondent may change facts to suit the needs of the interviewer which affects validity of collected data

To guarantee the validity and integrity of data collected through interviews for your business dissertation, the interviewer must exercise objectivity. He also must be open-minded to avoid ignoring undesirable responses due to personal bias. The questions must be asked clearly and effectively. The interviewing environment must not present an opportunity to be biased either for the interviewer or interviewee.