Page 55 - 6688

55

LECTURE FIVE
INTERVIEWING

Interviewing
1. Definition and functions of the interview.
2. Standardized and unstandardized approaches in interviewing.
3. The main types of interview questions.
4. Inadequate responses.
5. The structure of the interview.
6. The funnel sequence in the body of an interview.
7. The nondirective interview technique.

DEFINITION OF INTERVIEW

The interview encompasses many of the elements of all two-person communication.
When you consult a doctor, canvass door-to-door for a political candidate, or ask a stranger
for detailed instructions on how to get to a particular place, you are involved in an interview,
which is, loosely speaking, a "conversation with a purpose. Technically speaking, interview
is "a process of dyadic, relational communication with a predetermined and serious
purpose designed to interchange behavior and involving the asking and answering of
questions". However, even this definition is somewhat limited, since it limits interviews to
those with a serious purpose. The interview has also become a popular form of
entertainment on a variety of television news and public interest shows and documentaries.
Interviews serve a number of functions.
1. to gather or convey information,
2. to influence people's attitudes, and at times influence their behavior;
3. to exercise a major influence on an employee's morale (an appraisal interview, for
example),
4. to serve as a valuable research tool. It allows the interviewer to gather more complete
information than could be obtained. It also enables the interviewer to interpret or
explain questions more easily, thus increasing the likelihood of getting answers from the
respondent.
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

Standardized and Unstandardized Interviews
Whatever his or her objectives, the interviewer may use one of two approaches:
standardized or unstandardized. The standardized interview consists of a set of prepared
questions from which the interviewer is not allowed to deviate. The interviewer poses the
questions precisely as they are worded on the form. He or she does not even have the
option of changing their order. The standardized interview has one distinct advantage:
uniform responses over a large number of interviewers and respondents. An inexperienced
interviewer may still be able to conduct a fairly successful interview.
The unstandardized interview allows the interviewer as well as the respondent
considerable latitude, flexibility and potential for discovery: The interviewer may
1. deviate from any of the prepared questions;
2. follow up a prepared question with one of his or her own to obtain a more complete or
appropriate answer;