What is a significant disadvantage of interviews?

Interviews are a qualitative research method that gathers in-depth insights through direct interaction with participants. A significant disadvantage of interviews is that they can be time-consuming and expensive. This is because conducting interviews typically involves scheduling time with participants, which may require significant effort to recruit a suitable number of individuals. Additionally, interviews often need to be conducted in a face-to-face setting or via video call, which can also add to the costs associated with travel or technology.

Moreover, the interview process not only takes time for the actual conversations but also for the preparation beforehand, such as developing questions, and for analysis afterward, where transcripts must be reviewed and key themes must be identified. Given these factors, while interviews can yield rich and nuanced data, the resource investment required can be a considerable disadvantage, especially for studies with limited budgets or tight timelines.