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Methodology of Social Research

notes keeps answering them. in it, informant also receives personal motivation from the informant so that
he expresses personal information freely.
Merits: (i) through such kind of an interview, related to the subject, authentic, accurate and
credible information can be received. if informant is not able to understand any question
or understands it wrongly, interviewer by clarifying its correct meaning may receive the
correct information. (ii) in such kind of interviews, those sensitive questions in which there
is fear of the informant getting angry or emotional, can be asked with such trick so that his
emotions are not hurt and answers are also received. (iii) interviewer can put forward the
difficult language of question in simple words before the informant. (iv) Investigation of
information received through such information is possible. (v) in it intensive and detailed
information can be received about the subject. (vi) in it there is possibility of establishment
of intimate relations.
Demerits: (i) in it more time, money and labour is spent. (ii) in it there is more possibility of
discrimination. (iii) in it there is a need to establish contact with each informant, which is
a difficult task (iv) Arrangement and organisation of such an interview is also a difficult
task.
2. Group Interview: Under such kind of interview, an interviewer receives at a time, desired and
required information from more than one person or a group. He may ask the questions one-by-one
from the people in the group or any question may be answered by a leader or any person of the group
or collectively. the people in the group may express their consent by keeping quiet or may object or
criticise it also. through such an interview those information are compiled which are related to the
entire group.
Merits: (i) it is a less expensive method (ii) in it, detailed information can be found. (iii) in it,
authenticity and verifiability of received information is possible because of the presence
of other people. From them, clarification of incidence can be received. (iv) Through it, data
can be compiled from areas of large population. (v) in it there is no possibility of personal
discrimination (vi) through it more information can be collected. (vii) in it less skilled
person can also conduct the interview.
Demerits: (i) in it lack of secrecy is found. Hence, though such interviews, information related to
personal life cannot be attained. (ii) it cannot be used for intensive studies (iii) Many
respondents in the group are incapable to understand the questions, hence correct answers
cannot be found.

3. On the Basis of Duration

on the basis of duration of contact with the informant, interviews can be divided into two
categories-
1. Short-term Interviews: some interviews are such in which only little information related to the
subject needs to be known and in them answers of some few calculated questions is only found; hence
they get over soon. that is why such interviews are called short-term interviews.
2. long-term interviews: some problems are such about which intensive and detailed information is
needed; for them interviews for long-term are organized which may go on for many hours, days or for
months also. Psychoanalysts and psychiatrist use such interviews for treatment of mental patients.

4. On the Basis of Structure

Here questions are built before interview or questions are asked in basic form. on this basis, questions
are divided in three parts:

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