Last one to two hours. Are tape recorded. The interviewer may take notes as well. In-depth interviews generally begin with a written set of questions, but do not limit the person being interviewed to a set of possible answers. Questions are written to elicit in-depth answers, and the interviewer should allow the person to bring up topics not on the list of questions, and be prepared to follow his or her train of thought.
Unstructured interviews are more like having a conversation.
Interviewers should be trained to be able to allow for exploration while making sure the initial questions are answered. In-depth interviews can also be used as marketing or public relations tools. However, it must be clearly agreed before beginning the interview, that the information will remain confidential or will be used with permission. If, during an interview, the chief of police mentions he's concerned about young teens hanging out in dangerous neighborhoods at night, use that in your grant proposal for the drop-in center. If the mayor says she decided she supports needle exchange programs after visiting babies born with AIDS , find out if she'd be interested in talking to a journalist for a feature article in the local newspaper.