INTERVIEWS

1. WHAT IS AN INTERVIEW?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

What is an Interview?

• The INTERVIEW is an interpersonal role situation in which one person, the interviewer, asks a person being interviewed, the respondent, questions designed to obtain answers to the research problem

• an interview is like a conversation between two people but more…

• it requires varying degrees of directing and controlling from the researcher

What is an Interview?

1. What is an interview?

2. WHY USE AN INTERVIEW?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Why use an Interview?• if you need QUALITATIVE DATA and not

quantitative data

• if you want to gain IN-DEPTH information as to people’s thoughts and feelings

• if you want to gain insight into the MEANING of a phenomenon to people

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?

3. STAGES IN THE INTERVIEW METHOD4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Stages in the Interview Method1. Draft the interview

2. Pilot your questions

3. Select your interviewees

4. Conduct the interviews

5. Analyze the interview data

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method

4. DRAFTING THE INTERVIEW5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Drafting the Interview

• The Three models:

1. The Structured Interview

2. The Semi-Structured Interview

3.The Unstructured Interview

Types of Interviews• STRUCTURED/STANDARDIZED/

FORMAL INTERVIEW– Questions, their sequence, and their

wording are fixed– Interview schedule has

been carefully prepared– PRESET QUESTIONS

Types of Interviews• SEMI-STRUCTURED/

INFORMAL INTERVIEW– There is an overall aim

as to what data should be collected but the questions asked can vary widely from person to person

– Next question is determined by the response to the previous question

– Interviewer may be GUIDED as to the topics but decides how to order and phrase questions

Types of Interviews• UNSTRUCTURED/

UNSTANDARDIZED– More flexible and open– Questions, content,

sequence, and wording at the hands of the interviewer

– Interviewee can talk about anything – A wealth of qualitative data

• Choosing between the three models? The question is DEGREE OF CONTROL.

• But in any interview, it is important to prepare a list of KEY QUESTIONS to make sure that important issues will be discussed. How many questions? What type of questions? Order/sequence of questions?

• Make a decision on how to RECORD the interview: audio or video?

• TIP #1: Use the FUNNELING technique – from general to specific/focused questions.

• TIP #2: Start with light questions then move to sensitive/controversial ones.

• TIP #3: Cluster/group questions around themes/issues.

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview

5. PILOTING THE QUESTIONS6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Piloting the Questions

• No research instrument is perfect• Pilot-test your questions with a select few• Eliminate ambiguous questions• Improve flow or structure• Make sure questions are easy to

understand

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions

6. SELECTING THE INTERVIEWEES7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Selecting Interviewees

• Because interviews take longer and require more resources, make sure you interview the right people.

• “Who would be the best source of information to answer your research question?”

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees

7. CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Conducting the Interview• 1. Organizing the Physical Space

– less formal seating arrangements are better (e.g. interviewer and interviewee sitting side-by-side with a recording device discreetly placed)

• 2. Introductions/Establishing Rapporta. tell who you areb. explain the purpose of the interviewc. ask respondent for questionsd. ask permission to record the

interviewe. create a relationship of confidence

and trust (rapport)

Conducting the Interview• 3. The Interview

- open-ended questions provide more information than closed questions (e.g. Can you tell me…? How? Why? Pwede mo bang ikuwento…?)

- impart comforting cues to indicate interest and understanding and encourage interviewee to respond (e.g. nod, sit straight, lean slightly forward, maintain eye contact)

- re-state responses to clarify what has been said (also prompt interviewee to elaborate)

- make use of silence

Conducting the Interview• TIP #1: FOCUSING

- introductory or context questions may be helpful before focusing on the “real” question

• TIP #2: PROBING - feeding back respondent’s statements,

asking why, waiting for elaboration (pausing)

• 4.Closing- check with interviewee what has been

said (check your interpretation of responses)- thank the interviewee- offer to provide a copy of the paper

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview

8. ANALYZING INTERVIEW DATA9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Analyzing the Interview Data• Transcripts

• Group responses to each question across respondents

• Identify themes/ categories of responses

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data

9. ADVANTAGES10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Advantages• 100% response rate• follow-up or probe questions• hear more than respondent tells

(tone, body language, nonverbals)• opportunity to “voice out” opinions

and attitudes• allows spontaneous expression• rich data esp. on thoughts, feelings,

and experiences that are difficult to write on paper

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages

10. DISADVANTAGES11. Interview checklist12. The ten commandments

Disadvantages• Requires a skilled interviewer

(training, piloting)• Time-consuming and costly

(1:2)• Difficult to analyze• Open to a variety of

interpretations• Data may diverge from

research questions

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages

11. INTERVIEW CHECKLIST12. The ten commandments

Interview Checklist• What questions will you ask?• How will you order the questions?• Will you follow a rigid structure?• How will you record the interview?• Have you piloted your interview? Have you

incorporated comments or suggestions?• Are there complicated or ambiguous

questions?• Have you identified your interviewees? Is

your sample representative?

Interview Checklist• Have you arranged to meet at a suitable place?• Have you communicated the timing of the

interview?• How will you position yourself in the interview?• Have you prepared a briefing for the interview?• Can you assure anonymity?• Have you explained how the data will be used?• How will you thank the interviewee?

1. What is an interview?2. Why use an interview?3. Stages in the interview method4. Drafting the interview5. Piloting the questions6. Selecting the interviewees7. Conducting the interview8. Analyzing interview data9. Advantages10. Disadvantages11. Interview checklist12. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The Ten Commandments of Interviewing

1. Do not begin the interview cold.– Warm up the conversation. Break the

ice. Establish rapport.2. Remember that you

are there to get information.

– Stay on your task.3. Be direct.

– Know your questions well. Do not appear casual or uninterested.

The Ten Commandments of Interviewing

4. Dress appropriately.5. Find a quiet place to do

the interview where there will be no distractions.

6. If your interviewee does not give you a satisfactory answer the first time you ask a question, rephrase it.

7. If possible, use a tape recorder.– Make sure you ask permission first. But

don’t forget to still take down notes.

The Ten Commandments of Interviewing

8. Make the interviewee feel like an important part of an important project.

– Express your appreciation.

9. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

10.Thank the interviewee and ask if he/she has any questions.

– Offer a copy of the results.

REFERENCES:– Frankfort-Nachmias, C., & Nachmias, D. (1996).

Research Methods in the Social Sciences, 5th Ed. London: St. Martin’s Press, Inc.

– Kerlinger, F. (1986). Foundations of Behavioral Research, 3rd Ed. NY: Hold, Rineheart and Winston, Inc.

– Salkind, N.J. (2000). Exploring Research, 4th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

– Searle, A. (1999). Introducing Research and Data in Psychology. London: Routledge.

– Wilkinson, D., & Birmingham, P. (2003). Using Research Instruments: A Guide for Researchers. London: Routledge.