What function do interviews serve in qualitative research?

Interviews serve a crucial function in qualitative research by enabling researchers to gather in-depth insights and personal experiences from participants. This method allows for a rich exploration of subjects' thoughts, feelings, and motivations, leading to a deeper understanding of social phenomena. Unlike quantitative methods, which focus on numerical data to identify patterns and correlations, qualitative interviews provide nuanced perspectives that reveal the complexities of human behavior and social interactions.

Additionally, the open-ended nature of interviews allows participants to express themselves in their own words, potentially uncovering themes and insights that the researcher might not have anticipated. This approach is especially valuable in sociology, where understanding individual experiences can illuminate broader social issues. The interaction between the interviewer and interviewee can also facilitate a more dynamic exchange, contributing to the depth and richness of the data collected.

In contrast, methods such as conducting experiments or collecting numerical data are not aligned with the primary aim of qualitative interviews, which is to foster an understanding of lived experiences rather than to derive or manipulate statistical figures.