Published on
January 27, 2022
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
An unstructured interview is a data collection method that relies on asking participants questions to collect data on a topic. Also known as non-directive interviewing, unstructured interviews do not have a set pattern and questions are not arranged in advance.
In research, unstructured interviews are usually qualitative in nature, and can be very helpful for social science or humanities research focusing on personal experiences.
An unstructured interview can be a particularly useful exploratory research tool. Known for being very informal and flexible, they can yield captivating responses from your participants.
NoteUnstructured interviews differ from other types of interviews because none of the questions are predetermined in topic or order. The other three most common types of interviews are:
Published on
January 27, 2022
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
A semi-structured interview is a data collection method that relies on asking questions within a predetermined thematic framework. However, the questions are not set in order or in phrasing.
In research, semi-structured interviews are often qualitative in nature. They are generally used as an exploratory tool in marketing, social science, survey methodology, and other research fields.
They are also common in field research with many interviewers, giving everyone the same theoretical framework, but allowing them to investigate different facets of the research question.
NoteSemi-structured interviews are a mix of structured and unstructured interviews. While a few questions are predetermined, the others aren’t planned. The other three most common types of interviews are:
Published on
January 27, 2022
by
Tegan George
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
A structured interview is a data collection method that relies on asking questions in a set order to collect data on a topic. It is one of four types of interviews.
In research, structured interviews are often quantitative in nature. They can also be used in qualitative research if the questions are open-ended, but this is less common.
While structured interviews are often associated with job interviews, they are also common in marketing, social science, survey methodology, and other research fields.
NoteStructured interviews differ from other types of interviews because the questions are predetermined in both topic and order.The other three most common types of interviews are:
Semi-structured interviews: A few questions are predetermined, whereas the other questions aren’t planned.
Published on
December 17, 2021
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Peer review, sometimes referred to as refereeing, is the process of evaluating submissions to an academic journal. Using strict criteria, a panel of reviewers in the same subject area decides whether to accept each submission for publication.
Peer-reviewed articles are considered a highly credible source due to the stringent process they go through before publication.
There are various types of peer review. The main difference between them is to what extent the authors, reviewers, and editors know each other’s identities. The most common types are:
Relatedly, peer assessment is a process where your peers provide you with feedback on something you’ve written, based on a set of criteria or benchmarks from an instructor. They then give constructive feedback, compliments, or guidance to help you improve your draft.
Published on
December 10, 2021
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
A focus group is a research method that brings together a small group of people to answer questions in a moderated setting. The group is chosen due to predefined demographic traits, and the questions are designed to shed light on a topic of interest.
Published on
December 6, 2021
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
November 20, 2023.
Exploratory research is a methodology approach that investigates research questions that have not previously been studied in depth.
Exploratory research is often qualitative and primary in nature. However, a study with a large sample conducted in an exploratory manner can be quantitative as well. It is also often referred to as interpretive research or a grounded theory approach due to its flexible and open-ended nature.
Note: Be careful not to confuse exploratory research with explanatory research, which is also preliminary in nature but instead explores why a well-documented problem occurs using secondary research.
Published on
December 3, 2021
by
Tegan George
Revised on
November 20, 2023.
Explanatory research is a research method that explores why something occurs when limited information is available. It can help you increase your understanding of a given topic, ascertain how or why a particular phenomenon is occurring, and predict future occurrences.
Explanatory research can also be explained as a “cause and effect” model, investigating patterns and trends in existing data that haven’t been previously investigated. For this reason, it is often considered a type of causal research.
Note: Be careful not to confuse explanatory research with exploratory research, which is also preliminary in nature but instead explores a subject that hasn’t been studied in depth yet.
Published on
November 12, 2021
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
February 25, 2022.
Plagiarism can be a tricky subject to teach. Students may think of plagiarism as a deliberate action—e.g., copy-pasting something from Wikipedia or turning in a paper they didn’t write—but it’s important to communicate that plagiarism often occurs accidentally.
We have compiled a variety of resources targeted at educators and professionals seeking to teach high school or college students about plagiarism. These include sample lecture slides, videos, in-depth examples, quizzes, and downloadable worksheets.
The examples below illustrate common instances of accidental plagiarism, with solutions to help you submit your work with confidence. Most of these types of plagiarism are quite easy to detect with a reliable plagiarism checker.
Published on
October 18, 2021
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
May 30, 2024.
If you use someone else’s words or ideas without properly crediting them, you could be committing plagiarism. The consequences of plagiarism vary based on the severity of the offense.
Consequences of mild, moderate, and severe plagiarism
Level of plagiarism
Examples
Likely consequence
Mild
Source cited in text but left out of reference list
Quotation marks omitted around a quote
Grade penalty or automatic zero
Moderate
Text copied from a source with a few words changed
Source paraphrased without citation
Failing grade on course
Severe
Patchwork of different texts passed off as original
Paper written by someone else
Academic probation or expulsion
Plagiarism can also have serious consequences in high school and during the college application process. Many high schools use plagiarism checkers and treat plagiarism the same way colleges do, and admissions officers will typically disregard your application if they find you’ve plagiarized any part of it.
