Interview. Week 12
Interview Usually, interviewing is defined simply as a conversation with a purpose. Specifically, the purpose is to gather information. Unfortunately, the consensus on how to conduct an interview is not nearly as high. Interviewing and training manuals vary from long lists of specific do's and don'ts to lengthy, abstract, pseudo theoretical discussions on empathy, intuition, and motivation. Research, particularly field research, is sometimes divided into two separate phases—namely, getting in and analysis (Shaffir et al., 1980). Getting in is typically defined as various techniques and procedures intended to secure access to a setting, its participants, and knowledge about phenomena and activities being observed. Analysis makes sense of the information accessed during the getting-in phase. Types of Interviews. No consideration of interviewing would be complete without at least some acknowledgment of the major interview structures. At least three major categories may be identified (Babbie, 1995; Denzin, 1978; Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 1996; Gorden, 1987; Nieswiadomy 1993): the standardized (formal or structured) interview, the unstandardized (informal or non-directive) interview, and the semistandardized (guided-semistructured or focused) interview.