Which term best describes an interview approach that combines both structured and unstructured methods?

The term that best describes an interview approach combining both structured and unstructured methods is semi-structured. This approach allows the interviewer to follow a general topic guide while also permitting the flexibility to explore topics in more depth as needed.

In a semi-structured interview, predefined questions are established to guide the conversation, ensuring that key areas of interest are covered. However, it also provides the interviewer the opportunity to deviate from the script to probe for more information, clarify responses, or explore unexpected avenues that arise during the discussion. This blend of structure and flexibility is valuable for gathering comprehensive and nuanced insights from the interviewee.

Other terms do not capture this dual nature effectively. A formal approach implies a strict adherence to a predetermined set of questions without allowances for deviation, while a concurrent approach typically pertains to activities that happen at the same time rather than during interviewing. Random suggests a lack of structure and can lead to disorganized conversations that may miss essential information. Each of these alternatives fails to reflect the balance of pre-planned questions and adaptive inquiry characteristic of the semi-structured format.