Hrm

1. Types of interview
- structured interview
- questionnaires based on a predetermined and standardised, or
identical set of questions (interviewer-administered questionnaires；
- semi-structured interview ）
researcher have a list of themes and questions to be covered.
Some questions omitted in particular interviews in a specific
organisational context.
(qualitative research interviews)
- unstructured or in-depth interview ）
No pre-determined list of questions to work through, but
researcher has clear ideas about the aspects that he want to
explore.
informant interview : interviewee’s perceptions that guide the conduct of the
interview）
respond interview ：interviewer directs the interview and interviewee responds to
the the questions of researcher)

2. Types of interview
Standardised
interviews
non-standardised
interviews
Structured interviews
(interviewer administered
interviews)
Semi-structured
interviews
(Qualitative research
interviews)
Unstructured/in-
depth interviews
(In-depth interviews)
Respondent
interviews
Informant
interviews

3. Types of interview
Common understanding
of the research topic
(interviewer-interviewee)
Interviewee can offer
quantitative infor. of
the research topic
Structured interview
Part of Common
understanding
of the research topic
yes
yes
No No little Common
understanding
of the research topic
Semi-structured Interview
can offer infor. of the
research topic
Semi-Structured interview
yes
yes
unstructured Interview can
offer infor. of the
research topic
unstructured interview
yes
yes
No
No

4. Types of interview

5. Situations for non-standardised (qual.) interviews
• Purpose of the research
descriptive, explanatory, exploratory
• Significance of establishing personal contact
inter-personal trust
• Nature of the data collection questions
large number of Qs;
complex, open-ended questions, order and logic of Qs may need to be varied.
• Length of time required and completeness of
the process
Structured, semi-structured, unstructured

6. Data quality issues
• Reliability: whether alternative researchers would
reveal similar information.
-interviewer bias (lack of standardisation)
-interviewee/response bias
-time consuming leads to inpatient response
• Validity: the extent to which the researcher gains
access to their participant’ knowledge and experience,
and is able to infer a meaning that the participant
intended from the language that was used by the
person.
-flexible and responsive interaction
-topics to be covered from a various angles
-can NOT be used to make generalisations about the entire
population

7. Data quality issues
Overcoming data quality issues
• Preparation
-level of knowledge
-level of information supplied to the interviewee
-appropriateness of location
-appropriateness of researcher’s appearance at the interview
-nature of the opening comments to be made when the interview commences
-approach to quetioning
-nature of impact of the interviewer's behaviour during the course of the
interview
-demonstration of attentive listening skills
-scope to test understanding
-approach to recording data
-cultural differences and bias
• Genaralisability
-single case study (well-competed and rigorous)
-theoretical propostions

8. 4. Interviewing competence
• Opening the interview
• Using appropriate language
• Questioning
• Listening
• Testing and summarising understanding
• Recognising and dealing with difficult
participants
• Recording data

9. • Questioning
-open questions (what, why, how)
Why did the org. introduce its marketing strategy?
what methods have been used to make employees redundant (裁员)?
how has corporate strategy changed over the past five years?
-probing questions (what, why, how)
How would you evaluate the success of this new marketing strategy?
Why? What?
-specific and closed questions
How many?
Do you mean that …
Did I hear you say that …
When …; Where…; Who…
4. Interviewing competence

10. • Recognising and dealing with difficult participants
monosyllabic answers: yes, no
limited time; worries about anonymity; have no interests;
→ open Qs, long pauses,
repeat long answers digressing from your focus
→ interrupt without offense, referring back to earlier relevant point
show-off, criticising
→ be knowledgeable about the research topic, be confident, be
patient
upset, cry
→ be patient and stop to ask questions
• Recording information
audio-recording + brief notes (non-verbal cues)
Notes taking
Interviewing competence

11. Organising the group interview
• Request to individual participate sent as an instruction(指示)
• Group the participants by horizontal slices (not vertical )
• Reduce the contribution of one or two dominating speakers
• Ensure that participants understand each other’s
contributions
• Locate the group interview in a neutral (中立的) setting
• Reach a theory saturation (no longer receiving new infor.)
Group interview and focus groups

12. Group interview and focus groups
• Focus group: a group interview where the topic is
defined clearly and precisely and there is a focus on
enabling and recording interactive discussion between
participants.
• The role of Moderator/ facilitator
- keep the group within the boundaries of the topic being
discussed
- generate interest in the topic and encourage discussion,
whist at the same time not leading the group towards
certain opinions

13. 6. Electronic interviews