The Interview Method

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The Interview Method/ Technique

Definitions:

A research interview is a structured social interaction between a

researcher and a subject who is identified as a potential source of

information, in which the interviewer initiates and controls the

exchange to obtain quantifiable and comparable information relevant

to an emerging or previously stated hypothesis.

An interview is a conversation between two or more people where

questions are asked and answers given. Questions are asked by the

interviewer to obtain information and questions are answered by the

interviewee to provide or give information. Interviews can be divided

into two rough types, interviews of assessment and interviews for

information.

he most common type of interview for assessment is a job interview

between an employer and an applicant! prospective employee. he goal of such an interview is to assess the interviewee in light of abilities or

shortcomings. "imilar interviews are also used for admissions to schools,

scholarship grants etc.

he second type of interviews are those seeking to gather information about

a subject. hese types of interviews are central to the practices of journalism

and independent studies conducted by the researcher #social research

interviews$. The social research interview therefore forms a part of the

Qualitative research method.

N.B: Interviews may e conducted face! to! face or via the telephone

"Interview Techniques#

here are many types of interview methods to use, but the most commonly

used are structured, semi structured and unstructured interviews. he


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amount and type of information sought by the researcher! interviewer will

determine the type of interview conducted.

%nstructured interviews is where the researcher asks few!little questions and

allows the interviewee to respond with no limitations or boundaries given. It

is often done to find out as much information as possible, and may be

referred to as &'ife (istory& Interview. It is the favoured approach for history

researchers, as it attempts to achieve a (olistic understanding of the

interviewee)s point of view. #*ral (istories$.

"emi "tructured Interviews are perhaps the most commonly used interview

technique in qualitative social research , where the researcher may seek

information which can be compared and contrasted with information from

other interviews. he researcher may produce an interview schedule which

is a list of questions the researcher wants to gain answers to from theinterviewee.

"tructured Interviews

It includes the use of fixed! structured questions with fixed response

chategories covering a specific area or topic. Questions are usually succint

#concise and to the point$. he interviewer is in total control of the

proceedings.

$urpose of conductin% Interviews

+. o provide in depth narrative information

-. o encourage respondents to talk about their feelings, attitudes and

opinions

. o validate information that researcher already has

&dvanta%es of the Interview Method/ Technique

• /esearcher! Interviewer has the opportunity of working directly withrespondents

• 0rovides the interviewer with the opportunity to probe or ask follow

up questions

• 0rovides information useful to validate information obtained from

other data sources


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• akes interviewer into the mind and emotions of the interviewee.

Interviewer is able to gain responses on what the interviewee feels,

what they think and what they know based on personal experience.

Disadvanta%es of the Interview Method/ Technique

• Interviewer)s presence may result in bias

• Interviewer)s probing techniques may lead to the interviewee feeling

pressured to give answers that he! she believes the interviewer wants

to hear

• Information gathered may be too subjective #based on opinion$1

therefore information may not be factual

• ime consuming

'uidelines to follow when conductin% Interviews

2o not dominate conversation

3ncourage respondent to talk

Avoid interrupting

Avoid stating your opinions or ask leading questions

Aim questions at required information

4revity is important5 keep it short and simple

0rovide preliminary notification

Documents

The Interview Method