interview schedule

1. ADVANCE RESEARCH METHODS
TOPIC
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE AS TOOL OF DATA COLLECTION
SUBMITTED TO: DR.AISHA SHOUKAT
SUBMITTED BY: UZMA BATOOL
ROLL NO. 01
PROGRAM: M.PHIL
SEMESTER: SECOND
DATED: 10-02-2018
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

2. CONTENTS
Social research and tools for data collection in social research
a. Research
b. Social research
Data collection, methods and tool for Data collection
a. Method of Collecting primary data
b. Sources of secondary data
Explanation of interview schedule
a. Defining interview schedule
b. Functions of interview schedule
c. Structure of interview schedule
d. Advantages of interview schedule
e. Disadvantages of interview schedule

3. SOCIAL RESEARCH AND TOOLS FOR DATA COLLECETION
IN SOCIAL RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Research is an intensive and purposeful search for knowledge and understanding of social
and physical phenomena. It is a method for the discovery of true values in a scientific way.
Research may be defined as the application of the scientific method in the study of
problems. At times, the terms research and scientific method are used interchangeably.
Webster’s Twentieth Century Dictionary defines the term Research as a careful, patient,
systematic, diligent inquiry or examination in some field of knowledge undertaken to establish
facts
or principles. According to Random Dictionary of English Language “Research as a diligent and
systematic enquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories,
application etc”. Research is an activity undertaken to establish facts or principles in a scientific
way.
SOCIAL RESEARCH
Social research Social research may be defined as a scientific undertaking by means of logical
and systematized techniques. Social research consists of the process of formulating and seeking
answers to questions about the social world. Social research is fundamentally a scientific
enterprise
aims to:
 Discover new facts or verify and test old facts;
 Analyze their sequences, inter-relationships and causal explanations which are derived
with
an appropriate theoretical frame of reference;
 Develop new scientific tools and theories which would facilitate reliable and valid study
of
human behavior.

4. DATA COLLECTION, METHODS AND TOOL FOR
DATA COLLECTION
Meaning and importance of data
Data and facts and other relevant materials, past and present, serving as bases for study
and analyses. Data are the facts and figures collected for statistical investigation.
There are two types of data:
1. Primary data,
2. Secondary data (desk research)
Method of Collecting primary data
 Observation method
 Interview method
 Local correspondences
 Questionnaire and schedule method
Sources of secondary data
 Personal sources: auto-biography, life history, diaries, letters, memoirs
 Public source: books, journals, reports, newspapers etc.
TOOL FOR DATA COLLECTION
1. Inquiry forms:
 Schedule
 Questionnaire
 checklist
 rating scale
2. Observation
3. Interview
EXPLAINATION OF INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
Schedule is the Performa containing a set of questions being filled in by the enumerate who are
specially appointed for this purpose. In other words, it is nothing more than a list of questions
which are necessary to test a particular hypothesis. In schedule, usually a set of questions are
asked and filled by an interviewer in a face- to-face situation with another.
According to Goode and hatt, schedule is the name usually applied to a set of questions which
are asked and filled by an interviewer, in face to face situation with another.

5. DEFINING INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
What is Interview Schedule
A schedule is a set of questions with structured answers to guide an observer interviewer, researcher or
investigator. It is a plan or guide line for investigation. According to, Thomas Carson, the schedule is
nothing but a list of questions which is necessary to test the hypothesis. In simple words schedule is a set
of questions formulated and presented with specific purpose for testing an assumption or hypothesis.
When interview is used as a tool for gathering data for research purpose it is called “research
interview”
Definitions of Interview Schedule:
Goode& Hatt: A set of questions which are asked by an interviewer and filled in on the spot in a face to
face to face interaction with another person.
Bogardus: A form of questions which the interviewer keeps with himself and filled it as he precedes his
inquiry.
P.V. Young: It is a name applied to a set of questions which are asked and filled in by the investigator
himself.
From the above definitions we can conclude that, it is a set of questions along with their answers asked
and filled in by the interviewer in a face to face meeting with interviewee.
Types of Interview Schedule:
There are various types of interview schedule.
1. Observation Schedule. This is a type of schedule having questions which guide an
observer systematically.
2. Rating Schedule. It is also a set of questions helps to guide a psychologist or sociologist
to measure the attitude and behavior of an individual.
3. Survey Schedule. This type of schedule is formulated for a surveyor to guide him for his
information’s collection.
4. Interview Schedule. It is a set of questions with structured answers to guide an
interviewer.

6. Functions of Interview Schedule:
The interview schedule has the following functions:
1. It is self-reporting technique which provides considerable flexibility to the interviewer.:
2. Questions can be clarified, if necessary the interview can be given an opportunity to qualify or
modify his answer and the interviewer can carefully observe the individual during the session,
noting down the feeling attached to his answer the topic or cases when he seems to be evasive
and areas on which he is most vocal.
3. If the interviewer is experienced and trained, he can go beyond external purposes of the
interview and he understands his inner feelings, wishes, desires, likes and dislikes.
4. While interviewing, the behavior of the subject can be observed and information with regard
to his emotional complex can be observed which will be greatly helpful for individual guidance.
5. It is an effective and indispensible tool for getting data that no other research tool can do.
6. It can be adaptable, capable of being used with all types of individuals.
This method of data collection is very useful in extensive enquiries and can lead to fairly reliable
results.
It is, however, very expensive and is usually adopted in investigations conducted by governmental
agencies or by some big organisations. Population census all over the world is conducted through this
method.

7. STRUCTURE OF INTERVIEW SCHEDULES
Structure of interview schedule can be under two categories
1. Type of interview schedule
2. Types of questions put in interview schedule
1. Types of Interview Schedules
In spite of the above limitations, interview technique may be quite useful for guidance. If the
interviewer is trained and if he possesses professional knowledge manners, maturity, objectivity,
adequacy, well-defined social values, the interview technique can get a high achieving situation
in individual guidance service.
 Structured or standardized interview
It this interview, the questions, their sequence and their wordings are fixed. The same question is
asked to everybody in the same manner. in general, the interviewer doesn’t have flexibility to
change the question, their format or order. Sometimes an interviewer may be allowed some
liberty in asking question but relatively little. That liberty is specified in advance. Standardized
interviews are interview schedule that have been carefully prepared to obtained information
pertinent to the research problem.
 Unstructured or unstandardized interview
In the interview, the sequence and wording of question are not fixed. The interviewer doesn’t
follow pre-planned list of the question. The interviewer writes the response of the interview
during the interview or after interview is completed. It is more flexible and open. Ordinary no
schedule is used. They don’t mean that unstructured interview is casual. The interviewer will
have a tentative list of question to be covered during the interview.
 Non-directive interviews
In non-directive interviews there is no preset topic to pursue. Questions are usually not pre-planned. The
interviewer listens and does not take the lead. The interviewer follows what the interviewee has to say.
The interviewee leads the conversation. The interviewer has the objectives of the research in mind and
what issues to cover during the interview. The interviewee is allowed to talk freely about the subject. The
interviewer’s role is to check on unclear points and to rephrase the answer to check for accuracy and
understanding (Gray, 2004 p. 217). The interviewer does not know which direction the interview will
take. Non-directive interviews have their origin in dynamic psychology and psychotherapy with the
objective to help patients reveal their deep-seated and subconscious feelings (Corbetta, 2002, p. 275). The
strengths of non-directive interviews are to find the deep-seated problem and the subconscious feelings.
On the other hand, the drawbacks are that there are no directions or issues to explore which can cause
some problems in coding and analyzing the data.

8. •Main Question
2 •ProbingQuestion
3
•Followup Question
2.Structure of questions in interview schedule is as follow:
Main questions:
Facilitate the participant to respond to your research concerns with their experiences and
perspectives
Probes:
Help manage depth, focus, detail and evidence
Follow-up questions:
Pursue concepts and themes introduced by the participants
DETAILS
Main questions
• A limited number of main questions
• Each introduces a new topic or stage
• These are relatively broad: focus later
• Ask for description of events before opinion
• These tend to be helpful - how, who, what, where, when...
• It is usually better to avoid using ‘why?’ and ‘do you…?’
Probing Questions
• These structure the interview by regulating the length of answers and extent of detail
• Clarifying and filling in gaps
• Keeping on topic
• Sorting out the sequence of events
• Helping sort which answers are more dependable
• You need to develop a variety of easily accessible probes

9. • Verbal, e.g. that’s interesting, go on
• Non-verbal, e.g. waiting, facial expression- interest
Examples of probes
• Can you say more about that?
• What do you mean by…?
• Do you mean that….?
• When do you think …..happened? Before..?
• Have you experienced other…..?
• Do you have specific experiences in mind, or is this a general opinion? Can you tell me about
one?
3.Follow up questions
• Different for each participant and generated in the moment
• To extend the content of the participant’s response, to elicit talk about internal states such as
feelings
• Allow a response tailored to the participant and their psychological or emotional state.
• May help you get through a ‘processed’ speech to a spontaneous account

10. Advantages & Disadvantages of Interview Schedule
Advantages
1. An interview schedule facilitates the conduct of an interview. Since the questions
have already been prepared beforehand, it is easier to carry out and complete the
interview.
2. It increases the possibility of collecting accurate information or data. The questions,
which were already prepared beforehand, are expected to be well-thought out and have
focus, so they target the “heart of the matter”, thereby ensuring that the answers obtained
are correct or accurate. According to Lindlof & Taylor, interview schedules can increase
the reliability and credibility of data gathered.
3. It allows interviewers and researchers to get more information, since they can ask
follow-up queries or clarifications to the questions they have prepared. Thus, the
information gathered is more relevant and useful.
4. The rate and amount of responses are higher. Often, interviews are time-bound.
Interviewers are given only a limited amount of time to ask all their questions and get the
answers. If he came prepared, then he can utilize that time properly. Otherwise, he will be
wasting a lot of time, thinking about what question to ask next. The next thing he knows,
time is up, and he barely got anything substantial from the interviewee.
5. It leads to more responses
There is no issue of missing or incomplete statements because it is administered by the
researcher
6. It is free from biasness
Mostly the close ended questions in interview schedule are considerable free from
biasness.
7. Personal contact b/w the investigator and respondent
As we know that interview schedules are self administered, so personal contact is reached
which supports to probing of questions.
8. More difficult situation can be studied
Berg (2007: 210)) suggests that it is important for interviewers to maintain their
“interviewee’s motivation by keeping boredom at bay”. This can be done in various
ways, for example by keeping to a minimum demographic (e.g. age) and personal (e.g.
income) questions. As to its typical duration, an interviewer would be expected to spend
at least half an hour to unravel the investigated phenomenon.
9. It is used for educated as well as uneducated respondents
Both type of respondents can be interviewed by this tool.
10. Needexpertise on the part of interviewer
Last, and certainly not least, the interviewer has to conduct a good interview! Every
interview has a life of its own. Some respondents are motivated and attentive, others are
distracted or disinterested. The interviewer also has good or bad days. Assuring a
consistently high-quality interview is a challenge that requires constant effort.

11. Disadvantages of an Interview Schedule
1. The Interview schedule has the following limitations so far as its application in the field
of guidance is concerned
2. It can be time-consuming
3. Preparation of the interview schedule can take quite a chunk of the time of an
interviewer, especially if it is for an extensive or in-depth interview. Significant amounts
of research must be performed in order to be able to craft good questions.
4. Variability may be high when the interview schedule is used by multiple
interviewers. This may result to unreliable information gathered during the interviews.
5. It is extremely time consuming process.
6. Information obtained is not standardized from one person to another.
7. A great deal of differences are found among the interviewers. As a result, the results
obtained can’t be called reliable.
8. In case of schedule the identity of respondent is known.
9. It is more expensive and costly.
10. It is more time consuming.
11. It required skilled and experienced investigators.
12. Wide-range coverage is not possible.

12. REFRENCES
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Age International.
David, M. & Sutton C.D. (2004). Social Research the Basics. London: SAGE Publications.
Gillham, B. (2000).
The Research Interview. New York: Continuum. Gray, D. E. (2004). Doing Research in the Real
World. London: SAGE Publications.
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/education/guidance-in-schools/interview-schedule-meaning-
uses-and-limitations/63699
https://www.cleverism.com/interview-schedule-definition-types-templates-tips/