This document discusses interview techniques and best practices. It covers types of interviews like structured, semi-structured, and unstructured. It also discusses training interviewers to avoid bias, preparing for an interview with topics like confidentiality and format, asking questions with the right sequence and type, analyzing interviews, and considering the strengths and weaknesses of interviews. The overall goal is to help researchers conduct effective qualitative interviews.

1. INTERVIEW
Presented by :
Mamta sharma
Ph.D scholar
JECRC University,
Jaipur

2. Contents
1. Definition
2. Types of interview
3. Techniques of interview
4. Types of interview questions
5. Training of the interviewer
6. Points for interviewer training
7. Interviewer bias
8. Preparation for interview
9. Sequence of questions
10. Stages of interview investigation
11. After the interview
12. Strengths & weakness
13. References

3. Definition
 The qualitative research interview seeks to describe and the
meanings of central themes in the life world of the subjects. The
main task in interviewing is to understand the meaning of what
the interviewees say. (Kvale,1996)
 An interview is a conversation between two or more people
where questions are asked by the interviewer to elicit facts or
statements from the interviewee

4. Types of interview
Interviews range from:
Structured Semi-structured Unstructured
(directed) (non-directed)

5. Structured Interviews
 have explicit research goals
 Are similar to a verbal approximation of a
survey questionnaire
 Allow for easy comparison between
participants
 Responses are shaped by the researcher

6. Semi structured
 flexible
 Have framework of themes to be explored.

7. Unstructured Interviews
 have an implicit research agenda
 Are similar to ‘steered conversations’ or ‘conversations with
a purpose’
 Questions emerge typically from the conversation
 Skill is in finding the most appropriate time to ask questions
 Choosing which type of interview to use depends on
the nature of the research and who you are
interviewing.
 Interviews can move from being structured at the
beginning to more unstructured at the end

8. Types of interview
 Informal, conversational interview / unstructured -no
predetermined questions are asked, in order to remain as
open and adaptable as possible to the interviewee’s nature
and priorities; during the interview the interviewer “goes
with the flow”.
 general interview guide approach /structured -the guide
approach is intended to ensure that the same general areas
of information are collected from each interviewee; this
provides more focus than the conversational approach, but
stilallows a degree of freedom and adaptability in getting
the information from the interviewee.

9. Cont.
Standardized, open-ended interview -the same open-ended
questions are asked to all interviewees; this approach
facilitates faster interviews that can be more easily analyzed
and compared.
. Closed, fixed-response interview -where all interviewees are
asked the same questions and asked to choose answers
from among the same set of alternatives. This format is
useful for those not practiced in interviewing

10. Techniques of interview
 Telephone interview
 Face to face interview
 Penal interview
 Informal, conversational interview
 Group interview
 Stress interview

11. Types of Interview Questions (1)
 Degree of focus
 ‘grand-tour questions:
Could you show me around the building?’
‘What are the general purposes of this room?’
 These enable a broad picture to be obtained
 Specific questions:
‘Please tell me more about …’
 These help to find out more specific information

12. Types of Interview Questions (2)
 Degree of open-endedness
 Open-ended
‘How do you feel about …’
 Used to discover participant’s perception of the
situation. Allows participants to interpret
questions their own way. Allows new questions to
be generated.
 Closed questions
‘Do you agree with the idea that …’
 Restricts participant’s response. Useful to
confirm findings

13. Types of Interview Questions (3)
 Types of information
 Descriptive
 Could you tell me what happened that evening?
 Structured
 ‘What factors do you think are involved in …?’
 Contrast
 ‘In what way has the course improved since last year?’
 Clarification
 ‘You talk about how objects represent people. Can you clarify
for me what you mean?’
 Follow-up
 ‘You mentioned organising space in the gallery. Can you tell me
how you organise the display space?’

14. Training of the Interviewer
Since the interviewer can control the
quality of the result his/her training
becomes crucial.
It is important to organize in detail and
rehearse the interviewing process
before beginning the formal study.

15. Points for Interviewer Training
 Describe the entire study -interviewers need to know more
than simply how to conduct the interview itself. They
should have background of the study and why the study is
important.
 Explain the sampling logic & process -naïve interviewer
may not understand why sampling is so important. They
may wonder why you go through all the difficulties of
.
selecting the sample so carefully

16. Interviewer Bias
 Interviewer needs to know the many ways
that they can inadvertently bias the results.
 Understand why it is important that they not
bias the study.
 By slanting the results they might jeopardize
the results or purpose of the study.

17. Preparation for Interview
 Choose a setting with the least distraction.
 Explain the purpose of the interview.
 Address terms of confidentiality.
 Explain the format of the interview.
 Indicate how long the interview usually takes.
 Provide contact information of the interviewer.
 Allow interviewee to clarify any doubts about the
interview.
 Prepare a method for recording data, e.g., take notes.

18. Sequence of Questions
 Get the respondents involved in the interview as soon as
possible.
 Before asking about controversial matters, first ask about some
facts.
 Intersperse fact-based questions throughout the interview.
 Ask questions about the present before questions about the
past
 or future.
 The last questions might be to allow respondents to provide any
other information they prefer to add and their impressions of the
interview.

19. Stages of Interview
Investigation
 Thematizing - the why and what of the investigation.
 Designing -plan the design of the study.
 Interviewing -conduct the interview based on a guide.
 Transcribing -prepare the interview material for analysis.
 Analyzing -decide on the purpose, the topic, the nature and
methods of analysis that are appropriate.
 Verifying -ascertain the validity of the interview findings.
 Reporting -communicate findings of the study based on
scientific criteria.

20. After the Interview
 Verify if the tape recorder, if used, worked throughout the
interview.
 Make any notes on your written notes.
 Write down any observations made during the interview.

21. Strengths & weakness
 Strengths
 depth of detail
 Unique advantge
 Weakness
 complicated
 time consuming

22. References
 Kael, Steinar. Interviews An Introduction to Qualitative Research
Interviewing, Sage Publications, 1996
 Research interviewing techniques by Bill Gillham ,Mc graw hill
publications,2000
 http://www.wikipidia.com
 http://www.slideshare.com
 http://www.qualitative-research.net
 Other.