A semi-structured interview allows for what?

A semi-structured interview is characterized by its blend of a predetermined set of open-ended questions along with the flexibility to ask spontaneous follow-up questions. This format empowers the interviewer to explore topics in more depth based on the responses given by the interviewee, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the subject matter.

The structured component provides necessary consistency across interviews, while the flexibility allows the interviewer to delve into areas of particular interest or unexpected insights that may arise during the conversation. This adaptability is key to gathering rich qualitative data and understanding complex issues, making it a valuable method in various research and assessment scenarios. In contrast, a rigidly structured interview would limit the exploration of topics, whereas complete freedom might lead to a lack of focus, and no questioning would negate the purpose of conducting an interview altogether.