Abigail R.

Catacutan
BSND3-1D

Interview
Interviews are something more than conversation. They involve a set of
assumptions and understandings about the situation which are not normally
associated with a casual conversion. Interviews are also referred as an oral
questionnaire by some people, but it is indeed mush more than that. Questionnaire
involves indirect data collection, whereas Interview data is collected directly from
others in face to face contact.
Therefore research interview should be systematically arranged. It does not happen
by chance. The interviews not done by secret recording of discussions as research
data. The consent of the subject is taken for the purpose of interview. The words of
the interviews can be treated as on the record and for the record. It should not be
used for other purposes besides the research purpose. The discussion therefore is
not arbitrary or at the whim of one of the parties. The agenda for the discussion is
set by the researcher. It is dedicated to investigating a given topic.

Importance of Interview:
Whether it is large scale research or small scale research, the nature of the data
collection depends on the amount of resources available. Interview is particularly
appropriate when the researcher wishes to collect data based on:
Emotions, experiences and feelings.
It is appropriate when dealing with young children, illiterates, language difficulty
and limited, intelligence.
It supplies the detail and depth needed to ensure that the questionnaire asks valid
questions while preparing questionnaire.
It is a follow up to a questionnaire and complement the questionnaire.
It can be combined with other tools in order to corroborate facts using a different
approach.
It is one of the normative survey methods, but it is also applied in historical,
experimental, case studies.

Types of Interview:
Interviews vary in purpose, nature and scope. They may be conducted for guidance,
therapeutic or research purposes. They may be confined to one individual or

extended to several people. The following discussions describe several types of

Structured Interview:
Structured interview involves fight control over the format of questions and
answers. It is like a questionnaire which is administered face to face with a
respondent. The researcher has a predetermined list of questions. Each respondent
is faced with identical questions. The choice of alternative answers is restricted to a
predetermined list. This type of interview is rigidly standardized and formal.
Structured interviews are often associated with social surveys where researchers
are trying to collect large volumes of data from a wide range of respondents.

Semi-Structured Interview:
In semi-structures interview, the interviewer also has a clear list of issues to be
addressed and questions to be answered. There is some flexibility in the order of the
topics. In this type of interviewee is given chance to develop his ideas and speak
more widely on the issues raised by the researcher. The answers are open-ended
and more emphasis is on the interviewee elaborating points of interest.

Unstructured Interview:
In case of unstructured interview, emphasis is placed on the interviewees thoughts.
The role of the researcher is to be as not intrusive as possible. The researcher
introduces a theme or topic and then letting the interviewee develop his or her
ideas and pursue his or her train of thought. Allowing interviewees to speak their
minds is a better way of discovering things about complex issues. It gives
opportunity for in depth investigations
Single Interview:
This is a common form of semi structured or un-structured interview. It involves a
meeting between one researcher and one informant. It is easy to arrange this type
of interview. It helps the researcher to locate specific ideas with specific people. It is
also easy to control the situation in the part of the interviewer.

Group Interview:
In case of group interview, more than one informant is involved. The numbers
involved normally about four to six people. Here you may think that it is difficult to
get people together to discuss matters on one occasion and how many voices can
contribute to the discussion during any one interview. But the crucial thing to bear
in mind. Here is that a group interview is not an opportunity for the researcher to
questions to a sequence of individuals, taking turns around a table. group is crucial

here, because it tells us that those present in the interview will interact with one
another and that the discussion will operate at the level of the group. They can
present a wide range of information and varied viewpoints.

Advantages of Interview:
Interviews techniques has the following advantages:

Depth Information:
o Interviews are particularly good at producing data which deal with
topics in depth and in detail. Subjects can be probed, issues pursued
lines of investigation followed over a relatively lengthy period.
Insights:
o The researcher is likely to gain valuable insights based on the depth of
the information gathered and the wisdom of key informants.
Equipment:
o Interviews require only simple equipment and build on conversation
skills which researchers already have.
Flexibility:
o Interviews are more flexible as a method of data collection. During
adjustments to the line of enquiry can be made.
Validity:
o Direct contact at the point of the interview means that data can be
checked for accuracy and relevance as they are collected.
High response rate:
o Interviews are generally pre-arranged and scheduled for a convenient
time and location. This ensures a relatively high response rate.
Therapeutic:
o Interviews can be a rewarding experience for the informant, compared
with questionnaires, observation and experiments, there is a more
personal element to the method and people end to enjoy the rather
rare chance to talk about their ideas at length to a person whose
purpose is to listen ad note the ideas without being critical.

Disadvantages of Interviews:
Irrespective of the above advantages, it has the following disadvantages.

Time Consuming:
o Analysis of data can be difficult and time consuming. Data preparation
and analysis is end loaded compared with, for instance,
questionnaires, which are preceded and where data are ready for
analysis once they have collected. The transcribing and coding of
interview data is a major task for the researcher which occurs after the
data have been collected.
Difficulty in data analysis:

This method produce non-standard responses. Semi structured and

Inhibitions:
o The tape recorder or video recorder may inhibit the informant. The
interview is an artificial situation where people are speaking for the
record and on the record and this can be daunting for certain kinds of
people.
Invasion of Privacy:
o Interviewing can be an invasion of Privacy and may be upsetting for
the informant.
Resources:
o The cost of interviewers fine, of travel and of transcription can be
relatively high it the informants are geographically widespread.