Interviewing

• A conversation with a purpose!• How to conduct an interview is the tricky part• Some describe it as an art rather than a skill• While others believe it can be learned with

practice

Truth to both…

Dramaturgy and Interviewing• Dramaturgy, as a theoretical perspective,

involves the elements and language of theater

“even in research, the line between performer and audience sometimes blurs, and the whole process becomes a dramatic performance” – Denzin (2006)

Types of Interviewing1) standardized interview2) Semistandardized interview3) Unstandardized interview

Ways to conduct an interview…4) Face-to-face 5) telephone interview6) Computer assisted interviewing

Standardized Interview Semistandardized Interview

Unstandardized Interview

• Most formally structured• No deviations from

question order• Wording of each

question asked exactly as written

• No adjusting of level of language

• No clarification or answering of questions about the interview

• No additional question may be added

• Similar in format to a pencil and paper survey

• More or less structured• Questions may be

reordered during the interview

• Wording of questions flexible

• Level of language may be adjusted

• Interviewer may answer question and make clarifications

• Interviewer may add or delete probes to interview between subsequent subjects

• Completely unstructured• No set order to any

questions• No set wording to any

questions• Level of language may

be adjusted• Interviewer may answer

questions and make clarification

• Interviewer may add or delete question between interviews

Interview Schedule• Typically an interview is chosen over

questionnaire when the research requires follow up.

• What someone ate as opposed to how they make food choices

• When determining what type of interview format, you must consider the kinds of question you want to ask AND the type of answers you expect to receive.

Schedule development

• Start with a sort of outline, listing broad categories that are relevant to study

• Then REFINE by determining:-question order-essential questions-extra questions-throw away questions-probing questions-wording of questions

Problem questions

• Affectively worded questions – arouse negative connotation, i.e. Why?

-neutralize the question• Double Barreled questions – asks responders to

answer 2 question in 1.• Complex questions

-keep questions brief• Question sequence

- start easy to develop rapport

Length Common researchers misconceptions:-participants will not want to partake in interviews that last several hours

Or conversely

-short interviews will not provide valuable information

Interviewer as an Actor• Perform your lines, routines, and movements

appropriately• Must be aware of what the other actor

(interviewee) is doing• Listen carefully to line cues in order to not

step on the lines of the interviewee• Remain nonjudgmental

Interviewer as director

• Be conscious of how you perform lines and move

• Must reflect on each segment as if you ere outside the performance

• Must assess the adequacy of your performance

• May include demonstrating both verbally and visually that you are empathic

Interviewer as choreographer

• Choreograph your own movements and gestures

• Script your own responses

The interviewer’s repertoire• Interviewer may adjust throughout, switching from

role to role • Interviewers rarely improvise• A new technique should not be tried in a real

interview• Not that an interviewer can’t pursue unexpected

leads or responses, but that the interviewer should be armed with a series of questions that fit virtually any topic

-”who with” “where” “how come” “how often”

Persuading a subject• Novice interviewers often make the mistake of

thinking a subject win not discuss certain topics• Often if a subject agrees to an interview, they are

willing to share more than you would expect• A novice interviewer will often get shaken or rattled

if a subject resists or is skeptical to a line of questioning

• Need to develop an interview repertoire– Role play with an experienced interviewer– Practice in front of competent critics

Techniques to get new researcher’s started• Uncomfortable silences – a technique to consciously

create long, silent pauses– Allows subject to reflect and associate and then break the

silence themselves with appropriate info– Should last about 45 seconds.

• Echoing – tendency for interviewer to communicate that they understand

- “I know what you mean”, “I understand”• Letting People Talk – not step on the interviewee's lines

- adjust pace with the interviewee’s pace

10 commandments

1) Never begin an interview cold 2) Remember your purpose3) Present a natural front4) Demonstrate aware hearing 5) Think about appearances6) Interview in a comfortable place7) Don’t be satisfied with monsyllabic answers8) Be respectful9) Practice, practice, and practice some more10) Be cordial and appreciative