What characterizes an in-depth interview?

An in-depth interview is characterized by one-on-one interactions that utilize open-ended questions, allowing for a deep exploration of the participant's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This format encourages participants to elaborate on their responses, providing richer qualitative data. The open-ended nature of the questions fosters a conversational style, which can lead to insights that are not typically uncovered through more rigid questioning formats. This method is particularly useful in research settings where understanding the nuances of a participant's perspective is beneficial, such as in advertising to gauge consumer attitudes and motivations.