INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEWS

1. Types

   • The unstructured interview
     • The unstructured interview is a very flexible approach. Areas of interest are established by the researcher but the discussion of issues is guided by the interviewee. This allows some control over the interview for both interviewer and interviewee. However, unstructured interviews can be difficult to plan (in terms of the time to be given to the event), they are difficult to ‘steer’ if the discussion gets away from the key subject matter, and they can prove extremely difficult to analyse.
   • The semi-structured interview
     • There is less flexibility with the semi-structured interview. The interviewer directs the interview more closely. More questions are predetermined than with the unstructured interview, though there is sufficient flexibility to allow the interviewee an opportunity to shape the flow of information.
   • The structured interview
     • Some see the structured interview as no more than a questionnaire that is completed face-to-face. The interviewer has control over the order of questions, all of which are predetermined. There is an element of predictability to the structured interview which allows the event to be timetabled with some precision (an interview scheduled to last an hour will usually do so). Unlike the other models for interviews, the structured interview may provide an easier framework for analysis

2. Definition

   • An interview is an exchange of ideas or opinions through a conversation that takes place between two or more people. All the people present in an interview talk about a certain question.
     • Interviewer. It fulfills the function of directing the interview and raises the topic to be discussed by asking questions. At the same time, it begins and closes the interview.
       • Interviewed. It is the one who voluntarily exposes himself to the questioning of the interviewer.

3. Procedures

   • Select your interviewees
     • Because interviews take longer to plan, conduct and analyse than do some other research instruments, extra care must be taken when selecting the sample group of interviewees. Even the most competent and hardworking of researchers cannot expect to interview all those associated or involved with the topic under scrutiny.
   • Pilot your questions
     • Piloting is crucial. It assists in eliminating ambiguous questions as well as in generating useful feedback on the structure and flow of your intended interview. As with other research instruments, interview questions should be easy to understand.
   • Conduct the interviews
     • The physical organisation of your interview setting is an important part of the interview process. Very formal interview situations tend to position the interviewer in front of the interviewee – often with a desk between them. However, this approach can appear confrontational and may intimidate the interviewee (although it has also been used on occasion as a tactic to intimidate the interviewer!).
   • Analyse the interview data
     • The final stage of the interview process begins by drawing together the data collected and structuring them in such a way as to make ready for analysis. In small-scale work, this would typically involve grouping the responses to each question from all interviewees to make comparison between respondents easy (the cut-and-paste function of most wordprocessors is ideal for this). Using this approach allows themes, issues and concerns to be easily identified and quantified.
   • Draft the interview
     • The interview development process begins by broadly indicating the questions which you’d like to ask. The number, type and format of your questions will be informed by the level of structure to be imposed on the interview. Interviews are traditionally less structured than other research instruments, such as questionnaires. However, three models for interviews exist: the unstructured interview; the semi-structured interview; and the structured interview.

4. Uses

   • For the intermediate researcher
     • Journalism: to obtain information from a source.
     • Medicine: Obtain as much information as possible about the patient's ailments.
     • Ethnography, anthropology and sociology: have a better perspective on the sample or the behaviors that are intended to be studied.
     • Job: to assess the knowledge, experiences, attitudes, and skills of job candidates.
     • Fiscal and police investigation: to obtain information from those who could be witnesses of a crime.
     • Therapy: to obtain information about a patient's symptoms or conditions.
   • The interview is used as the main means of obtaining information from a source. It not only serves as a complement for obtaining testimonials or data, but also as a center, or presentation format, if it is done to sources of high credibility and magnitude.

5. Data analysis

   • Using this approach allows themes, issues and concerns to be easily identified and quantified. When analysing a large number of interview transcripts it may be necessary to utilise the functions of computer-based tools. NU.DIST and NVIVO are two commercially available packages that facilitate interrogation and analysis of qualitative interview data. However, they rely on a coding structure that has to be developed by the researcher before any meaningful analysis can take place.