INTERVIEW SALEEQ AHMAD University of Delhi

Definition A person designated the Interviewer asking questions in a face-to-face contact to the other person or persons, designated as Interviewee/s, who gives answers to the questions. Any person to person interaction between two or more individuals with a specific purpose in mind is called Interview.

Advantages of Interview In depth information can be obtained from the respondent. Clarifications and explanations can be made. Complete responses can be obtained. Full control over respondents environment. Takes less time and effort of the respondent. Flexible for illiterates. Less ambiguity. Adaptability of language. Observation of supplementary information.

Figure 11.3 Questionnaire Design Process Disadvantages of Interview Figure 11.3 Questionnaire Design Process Expensive method when the target population is big in number and widely spread. Biased analysis. Same set of questions may receive diverse answers. No Anonymity. Requires skilled and trained interviewers. Difficulty in getting appointment with top level management groups. Technical barrier.

Figure 11.4 Types of Questions Types of Interviews Figure 11.4 Types of Questions Interview Telephone Interview Face-to-face Interview Structured Interview Unstructured Interview Clinical Interview Focused Interview Non-Directive Interview

Figure 11.5 The Funnel Approach to Ordering Questions Types of Interviews Figure 11.5 The Funnel Approach to Ordering Questions Structured Interview In structured interview the interviewer asks the pre-drafted set of questions. Here he/she cannot change the questions, or the sequence. No freedom of addition or deletion of the questions is possible. Example. Do you make use of computers in your research? a) Yes……….. b) No………. 2) Are you aware of the concept of deep web? a) Yes………. b) No……….

Cont’d Advantages Disadvantages Generates uniform data. Requires less skill. Requires less time. Disadvantages More Ambiguity. No clearance of doubts. No possibility of addition or deletion.

Cont’d Unstructured Interview In this type of interview the interviewer exercises autonomy what ever comes to his/her mind on a particular research problem. Here interviewer is free to ask additional questions and also repeat, delete or modify questions. Example. Q) How do you keep up-to-date in the field of research? ………………………………………………………….

Cont’d Advantages Free to ask additional questions. Gives in depth information. More flexible. Disadvantages Time consuming. Demands specialized training. Difficult to analyse the results.

Cont’d Focussed Interview Focussed interview is conducted basically to get focussed, in depth information on may given issue from the respondent. The main task of the interviewer is to involve the respondent in discussion on specific topic so that the researcher gets desired information. Q) As a preserver of the library how you are saving books from insects?

Cont’d Non-directive Interview Interviewer in this type of interview acts like a catalyst. He/she prompts the respondent to give information on the topic under investigation. Here respondent is given free environment so that he can express his views freely and to the point. The researcher simply supports the views expressed by the respondent instead of approving or disapproving them. Example: Q) Tell me about the incident in which your all documents were burned.

Cont’d Clinical Interview This type of interview basically covers the broad underlying feelings, life experiences, motivations of the respondents. Here the interviewer has the freedom to interact freely with the respondent to elicit the information on the given topic. This type of interview are conducted during social case work, in psychiatric clinics and in prison administration. Example: Q) Which circumstances made you to theft the precious book of our library?

Cont’d Telephonic Interview This type of interview is conducted on phone. the researcher needs a telephone connection and an instrument, a phone directory and a set of questions to be asked. It plays an important role in industrial research. Advantages. Faster and cheaper. Replies can be recorded. No field staff required.

Cont’d Disadvantages Costly International calls. Possibility of having no telephone connections to respondents. Poor signal or other network problem. Language barrier. No control over respondents environment.

Cont’d Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) System CATI system is used to conduct telephone interview to gather data from number of respondents scattered all over the world. In simple words computer is used to conduct surveys. This system requires PC , which is linked through network to server where data can be stored centrally.

Interview Process Plan Preparation of Interview schedule Pilot test of the study Conducting the Interview

Interview Process Plan Preparation of Interview schedule. In this stage the researcher plans the whole interview process, which includes the training, time and venue. it also takes into account the cost factor and travel time . Preparation of Interview schedule. It is a list of printed questions prepared in advance, set in some order or sequence. The researcher records the answers on the printed schedule during the interview session.

Interview Process Pilot test of the study Before the actual interview process starts it is advisable to pre test the interview questions. A group of respondents should be selected for pilot study. But this group should not be included in the proper study. After getting responses the researcher can modify it accordingly. Conducting the Interview Here the researcher manages multiple tasks like putting questions to the respondents, giving clarifications, explanations, demonstrations and listening answers. The researcher has to take care of time. The questions should be covered in the session.

Guidelines for conducting Interviews Interviewer should always plan in advance the venue and time. Should behave friendly with the respondent. Should have the ability to mobilize the respondent to answer freely and frankly. Questions should be well framed. Complex questions should be avoided. Should have an unbiased approach. Should not indulge in any argument. Should show gratitude for the respondent.

More Guidelines Recording the interview: In closed ended questions it is easy to record the responses on the interview schedule and it becomes easy for researcher to write the responses in the same way as the respondent responses. This method is called Note Taking Method. Recording: For open-ended questions, it is difficult for a researcher to remind all the responses of the respondent and to write them. Thus In order to get the successful substance from the researcher it is easy to record the interview by using a tape recorder and to record all necessary information for data analysis and interpretation.

Cont’d Preparation of Verbatim Transcripts: After the interview the recording are transformed into verbatim transcripts. This form the primary material for research. Analyses of Data and Report Writing: Analysing the qualitative data is a very difficult task. Same sets of questions receive diverse answers. So the main work of the researcher is to analyse the data by using many techniques. Report form the basis of a research so it should be very clear and précis.