Types of interviews

According to Saunders et al., (2009) there are three types of interviews: unstructured interviews, structured interviews and semi-structured interviews.

5.5.2.1 Unstructured interviews

This kind of interview is used when exploring a general area in depth, where the respondent is given practically full liberty to discuss reactions, opinions and

behaviourin related to a particular issue. The interviewer is there simply to ask leading questions and to record the responses in order later to understand the answers to ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions (Carson, et, al, 2001).

5.5.2.2 Structured interviews

Where a standard form of interview is used with an emphasis on fixed response categories and systematic sampling and loading techniques joined with quantitative measures and statistical methods (Carson, et, al, 2001).

5.5.2.3 Semi-structured interviews

The semi-structured interview has a list of themes and questions to be covered, but the order can be modified based upon the interviewer’s perception of what seems most appropriate. Question wording can be changed and clarifications are given; particular questions which seem inappropriate with a particular interviewee can be omitted, or additional questions added to other interviews (Robson, 2002).

This research was designed to deal with owner-managers of SMEs, managers of lending organizations, and members of Sharia boards at the lending organizations. The aim was to collect their opinions and conceptions regarding the finance of SMEs in Kuwait within the rules of Islamic finance. Semi-structured interviews were adopted to collect the data for the following reasons:

1- Semi-structured interviews give the researcher the opportunity to probe a subject in greater depth to extract more details from the interviewee.

2- Semi-structured interviews allow the perceptions of various groups to be examined in detail. This helps to gather the ideas of different people with regard to SMEs in Kuwait.

Interview questions

Interview questions were based on the literature review (see Table 10) and pilot study and on previous research in the same field; some were added during the interviews.

Table 10 List of literature review that use to create some of the interview questions

title author name Place of the

study

Publisher Year of

publication

1 Factors for success in SMEs: A

perspective from Tangier

Sefiani Yassine Tangier University of

Gloucestershire

2013

2 The financing and success factors of

small business in Kuwait.

Alhajeri Abdullah

Kuwait University of

Portsmouth.

2012

3 An exploration of influences on the

growth of small firms in Libya

Hajjaji Iman Libya University of

Gloucestershire

2012

4 Financing of small business in the

Libyan economy environment

Eltaweel Mukhtar

Libya University of

Gloucestershire

2011

5 The feasibility of using profit and loss

sharing for financing small and medium sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia

Binzomah Mohammed

Saudi Arabia University of

Gloucestershire

2008

6 The financing problem of small and

medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Jordan

Ajlouni Heba Jordan Durham University 2006

7 Financing of small and medium sized

enterprises in Nigeria Dobo Danjuma Nigeria Loughborough University 2006

8 Determinants of the Demand for

Microenterprise finance in Urban Egypt

Nasr Mohamed

Egypt University of Durham 2002

In addition to this, the researcher has seven years’ experience of working in the Islamic banking sector in Kuwait. He works as a senior officer in a sharia department, and this knowledge and experience has helped to create an effective set of questions for the semi-structured interviews.

An interview guide was developed for the interviews, consisting of a set of questions to be asked. The list of questions was developed after a study of the literature review, and is presented in the appendix; however all interviews began with an introduction, which asked about the educational background and experience of the interviewees. The order of the interview guide was constructed by considering the research objectives and questions as well as with a view to achieving fluent conversation with the participant.

Interviews were conducted in a location chosen by the subject. This was to provide comfort and a relaxed atmosphere in which to complete the interview process (Egan & Howell, 2001).The duration of each interview was about 45 minutes and conversations were recorded using a digital recorder. Transcripts were made after the interview (please note that the transcript policy as well as the ethical considerations are explained later in this chapter).

The following interview process was derived:

- Interviewees were telephoned beforehand to briefly explain the topic and arrange an appointment for the interview.

- All participants received a letter about the topic and interview questions so that they would feel comfortable in the interview.

- In cases where the interview contact was made using snowball sampling, the interviewer began the interview with an introduction from the referring person. This made it easier to establish trust with the new participant (Polit & Beck, 2004).

- A short introduction about the topic was given to the participants.

- The interviewees were informed that the interview would be recorded using a digital recorder. In addition to that it was explained that they could skip any question or stop the interview at any time. Ethical considerations are discussed in greater detail later in this chapter.

Documentary material

To triangulate the interview data, supporting documents such as reports, memos, conference material and statistical information from the two institutional case forms and from government and non-government statistics about Kuwait (for example, from the Kuwait Central Bank (KCB), the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and from Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry) were collected.