community medicine topic- art of interviewing

1. ART OF INTERVIEWING
DR KONICA GUPTA
SENIOR RESIDENT
Department of Community Medicine
Rama Medical College, Rama

2. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Aim
 Types
 Technique

3. INTRODUCTION
 Interview is a device for investigation, it is an instrument of research.
 Example- The chemist carries out research in test tubes; the bacteriologist uses
the microscope in his laboratory. In much the same way, the social scientist
uses the interview technique in his investigations.

4.  Modern medicine has changed its character; it has emerged as a social science
in recent years. Social and psychological factors have come to be recognized
as dominant factors in the natural history of disease.
 In order to elicit these factors, it may be necessary to employ the interview
technique.
 It may be said that the interview technique is one of the contributions of
social science to modern medicine.

5. AIM OF INTERVIEW
 The major aims of interview are :
 1- to secure information through face-to-face association and thereby gain
the portrait of the entire personality, broad enough to encompass the social
and psychological background.
 2 - to form a hypothesis
 3 - to collect personal data for quantitative purposes and
 4 - to collect data from persons who are secondary sources of information.

6. KINDS OF INTERVIEW
 Social scientists have described four kinds of interview :
 1. Direct or structured interview: A schedule containing a set of
predetermined questions is prepared. The researcher gets answers to these
questions only. Generally the researcher does not add anything to what has
been stated by the subject. He does not even alter the language.

7.  2. Non-directive or Unstructured interview : No predetermined questions
are asked. The researcher collects information by free discussion. The subject is
asked to narrate in his own words his experiences, opinions or reactions about
the particular subject under investigation.
 3. Focussed interview : This type of interview is generally used to study the
social and psychological effects of mass communication, e.g., reaction of a film
show or radio programme. The researcher tries to focus his attention on a
particular aspect of the problem and tries to know the experience, attitude
and emotional responses regarding the concrete situation under study.

8.  4. Repetitive interview: It is used when it is desired to note the gradual
influence of some social or psychological process. A record has also to be
maintained to study the change in continued sequence.

9. TECHNIQUE OF INTERVIEW
 Conducting an interview is both an art and science. Sociologists have
described the following steps for conducting an interview
 1. ESTABLISHING CONTACT-
 The first requisite before conducting an interview is to establish contact with
the interviewee. Prior appointment regarding the time and place of interview
is always desirable. It gives the interviewee a sense of satisfaction and a feeling
of importance that his time has been valued.

10.  2. STARTING AN INTERVIEW
 The beginning should always be made from a general discussion of the
problem. The researcher should create an atmosphere in which the interviewee
interviewee freely tells his story in his own way. The researcher should let the
interviewee do most of the talking, while he should himself listen to it
attentively guiding and directing the interviewee about the subject matter
wherever necessary. All controversial matters must be carefully avoided.

11.  3. SECURING RAPPORT
 A state of rapport must be established between the interviewee and the
researcher. In the beginning every interviewee proceeds very cautiously giving
only formal information. He may not like to discuss personal matters with a
stranger. It therefore requires tact on the part of the researcher to create a
friendly atmosphere and gain the confidence of the interviewee. Once rapport
is gained and hesitation and shyness are overcome, the interviewee may feel
overzealous to tell everything that he knows, and all that he feels without any
attempt at secrecy or formality.

12.  The research worker must utilize this situation to the fullest advantage, and
use it as best as he can. The state of rapport, sometimes may not last long;
once the interviewee has relapsed into his former state, it may be very difficult
to bring him back to rapport.

13.  4. RECALL
 At times, during the course of an interview, the interviewee may be so full of
emotion that he drifts away from the main subject, and may even go into
silence at the end of the narration. At such times, the researcher should give
enough time to the interviewee to recollect and start again. At times, it may be
necessary to refresh his memory by pointing out what he had been saying last.

14.  5. PROBE QUESTIONS
 When the interviewee, during an interview knowingly or unknowingly side-
tracks some important aspect of the problem, the researcher has to be very
cautious in catching these slips. Great care should be taken in putting probe
questions. They should appear to the interviewee to be born of mere curiosity.
If the interviewee has deliberately sidetracked a particular point, a very shrewd
effort is needed to make him discuss a point at length, the same should not be
doggedly pursued, lest rapport should be lost

15.  6. ENCOURAGEMENT
 During the course of an interview, it is necessary to encourage the interviewee
from time to time, interpolating such complimentary expressions as "what you
have said is really very illuminating; I never had such an enlightening
discussion; you really have a very unique approach to the problem; I myself
had never thought of it from that angle, etc." Great care should be taken that
complimentary remarks should sound true appreciations, and not flattery
otherwise they will lose all their effect.

16.  7. GUIDING THE INTERVIEW
 Sometimes, the interviewee digresses in his narration to less important topics,
which he is most eager to relate, and if stopped from continuing the
conversation he may get offended. It is the duty of the researcher to guide the
subject in the right path without offending him.

17.  8. RECORDING
 Recording the statements should be reduced to a minimum during the course
of an interview. If recording is continued, the flow of the conversation will slow
down and the interview may take the form of questions and answers. Further,
the interviewee will be conscious that his statements are being recorded. The
researcher should jot down only important points.

18.  9. CLOSING THE INTERVIEW
 An interview should not be ended abruptly. The interviewee should not feel, at
the close of the interview, that he has divulged many of his secrets to a
stranger. The researcher should bring the interview to a natural close, followed
by the usual forms of greetings.
 10, REPORT
 Soon after the interview, the report should be compiled when the mind is still
fresh about the narration.

20. THANK YOU