Interview
Group 5
Afnan Hatem Mohamed
Agenda
Definition and role of
interview
Advantages of interview
Disadvantages of
interview
Types of interview
Designing an interview
Definition and role of
interview
Interview is a purposeful conversation between two or more people, during which the interviewer asks concise
and unambiguous questions and listens attentively to the interviewee talking.
Role of interview:
Holistic Understanding: Interviews allow participants to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in
their own words, providing a comprehensive perspective.
Exploring Non-Observable Constructs: They are particularly useful for understanding phenomena that are not
directly observable.
Interactive Nature: The conversational format enables interviewers to clarify and probe for more detailed
responses, enhancing the richness of the data.
Flexibility in Approach: Interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured, making them adaptable
to various research needs.
Data Depth: Compared to methods like questionnaires, interviews yield narrative data that provides greater
depth and insight into participants' views.
Advantages of interview
High Return Rate: Interviews typically yield a higher response rate compared to other
methods, such as surveys or questionnaires.
Fewer Incomplete Answers: The interactive nature of interviews allows for clarification
and follow-up questions, leading to more complete responses from participants.
Involvement of Reality: Interviews can capture the complexities of human experiences
and perceptions, providing a more nuanced understanding of the subject matter.
Controlled Answering Order: Interviewers can guide the conversation and control the
order of questions, which can help in maintaining focus on the research topic.
Relatively Flexible: Interviews allow for adaptability in questioning, enabling
interviewers to explore emerging topics or clarify responses as needed.
Disadvantages of interview
Time-Consuming: Conducting interviews can be a lengthy process, both in
terms of data collection and analysis, as interviews need to be transcribed,
coded, and possibly translated.
Small Scale Study: Interviews often involve a limited number of participants,
which may not provide a representative sample for broader generalizations.
Potential for Subconscious Bias: The presence of the interviewer may
influence the responses of the interviewee, leading to biased or socially
desirable answers.
Potential Inconsistencies: Variability in how different interviewers conduct
interviews can lead to inconsistencies in the data collected.
Types of interview
Types of interview
Types based on level of structure:
Standardised (structured) interviews: provide consistency through a fixed set
of questions, facilitating quantifiable data and minimizing bias.
Unstructured interviews: Open-ended and conversational, allowing participants
to lead the discussion.
Semi-Structured Interviews: Combine a set of guiding questions with the
flexibility to explore new topics.
Dialogic Interviews: are a type of interview focused on open, interactive, and
reciprocal dialogue between the interviewer and the interviewee.
Convergent interviews: are qualitative interviews aimed at exploring participants'
views on a specific topic to identify common themes or insights.
Types based on number of
participants and modes
Types of interview
Types Based on Number of Participants:
One-to-One Interviews: Involve a single interviewer and one participant;
can be conducted in person, via telephone, or online; allows for in-depth
exploration of views and experiences.
One-to-Many Interviews: Conducted by a single interviewer with a small
group of participants; encourages interaction and shared perspectives.
Two-to-Many Interviews: Features two interviewers engaging with a
group; one leads the discussion while the other assists, enhancing
discussion depth and data collection.
Types of interview
Types Based on modes:
Face-to-Face Interviews: In-person meetings that foster rapport
and trust, promoting open discussions and nuanced data
collection.
Group Interviews: Designed for group discussions to gather
diverse perspectives and encourage participant interaction.
Focus Groups: A specific form of group interview that involves
moderated discussions to explore perceptions, opinions, and
attitudes, generating qualitative data.
Types of interview
Telephone and Internet-Mediated Interviews: Can be one-to-
one or one-to-many; useful for remote participation when in-
person interviews are not possible.
Visual Interviews: Incorporate visual stimuli to prompt
discussion, leading to deeper insights and understanding,
particularly for complex topics.
Designing an interview
When designing research interviews, avoid these pitfalls to ensure reliable
data:
Leading Questions: Don't influence responses with biased phrasing.
Ambiguity: Use clear, straightforward questions.
Complex Language: Avoid technical jargon; use simple terms.
Inflexibility: Be open to exploring unexpected topics.
Ignoring Context: Consider the interview setting and participant
dynamics.
Untrained Interviewers: Ensure interviewers have proper skills.
