A research interview is the face-to-face conversation between the investigator (interviewer) and the subject of study (interviewee).
The purpose of this type of interview is to obtain relevant information on a subject of study, through verbal responses given by the study subject.
This type of interview focuses on specific questions related to a proposed problem.
Because of its more flexible nature, it is considered that through the interview, more and better information can be obtained than that derived from a questionnaire (Dudovskiy, 2017).
It is characterized because the researcher can explain personally the topic that will be treated during the interview.
In this way, if there are any concerns on the part of the study subject, they can be openly raised and they will be resolved immediately. All this ensures that there are better answers.
In its broadest sense, a research interview is a system of obtaining oral information, which can occur in one or more senses, since it can be taken as a conversation between the researcher and the subject of study (Amador, 2009).
The questions within this type of interview are oriented in such a way that the information required by a specific study can be obtained. The questions are raised according to the objectives defined by that study.
It is an ideal research tool to collect information from all types of audiences, since it does not require written answers.
Types of Research Interview
There are three types of research interviews: the structured, the unstructured and the semi-structured (BDJ, 2008).
- Structured research interview
The structured research interview is governed by a standardized questions path. These questions are posed in the same way and in the same order to each of the objects of study.
This type of research interview requires the preparation of a form, which includes all relevant questions for research.
For this reason, the researcher has less freedom to ask questions to the subject of study. This condition limits the personal interaction between the participants of the interview.
Advantage
The structured research interview ensures that the same questions are posed to all study subjects. For this reason, the resulting information can be manipulated in a standardized, simple and objective way.
On the other hand, the interviewer requires less training on the topic of study before the interview, since the interaction with the study subject is limited.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of the structured research interview is the high cost involved in its preparation. The level of complexity of the interview should be calculated in such a way that it is easy for the subject to understand.
Also, this type of interview reduces the interviewer's ability to act more spontaneously.
The subject of study, for his part, is also limited by the structure of the interview, which is why he can not ask questions openly to the researcher.
- Non-structured research interview
This type of interview is much more open and flexible, without neglecting the objectives initially established in the research.
The way the questions are asked, the content collection, the depth and the number of questions raised depend on the interviewer.
The researcher within this type of interview is free to pose the questions in such a way that they are easier to answer on the part of the study subject.
However, any changes that arise in the course of questions should not go against the objectives of the research (Jaen, 2005).
Unstructured interview research is useful for more detailed studies. It is therefore often used during the exploratory phase of research to design data collection instruments.
Advantage
The main advantage of the unstructured research interview is that it gives the researcher more flexibility to ask the appropriate questions to the study subject.
The researcher can delve spontaneously in other areas related and relevant to the research.
In this way, relevant information that could have been ignored during the initial approach of the research objectives is revealed.
Disadvantages
One of the main disadvantages of this type of interview is that, being more spontaneously cut, the time established to perform the interview can be misused.
On the other hand, the researcher can include his own perspective when posing the questions, thus skewing the answers.
In this sense, the results can be altered by the researcher, who can collect and interpret them incorrectly or extraneous to the specific objectives of the research.
- Semi-structured research interview
It is a type of mixed interview where the researcher has a course of questions to ask the subject of study.
However, the questions are open, allowing the respondent to give a freer, deeper and more complete answer (McNamara, 2017).
For this reason, it is understood that the semi-structured research interview allows the subject of study to refine their answers and delve into topics that were not initially raised in the course of questions.
Advantage
The main advantage of this type of interview is its orderly and flexible structure. It is an interview model that is perceived more naturally among the participants of the interview, without neglecting the object of study of the interview.
Likewise, the interviewer can relate the answers of the study subject with questions present in the course, covering the topics with greater amplitude.
Disadvantages
The interviewer needs to pay close attention to the answers given by the subject of study, with the aim of avoiding that this one deviate from the subject of the investigation.
Conditions for the success of the research interview
For a research interview to be successful, you must consider the conditions listed below:
1 - The subject of study must have the necessary information to answer the questions that are formulated to him.
2 - The person interviewed must have some kind of motivation to answer the questions honestly and completely.
3 - Both the researcher and the subject of study must have knowledge of the subject to be treated.
References
- Amador, M. G. (May 29, 2009). Investigation methodology . Obtained from Interview In Investigation: manuelgalan.blogspot.com
- (22 March 2008). Methods of data collection in qualitative research: interviews and focus groups. British Dental Journal , p. 291-295.
- Dudovskiy, J. (2017). Research Methodology . Retrieved from Interviews: research-methodology.net
- Jaen, U. d. (2005). The interview in qualitative research. Jaen: University of Jaen.
- McNamara, C. (2017). Free Management Library . Retrieved from"General Guidelines for Conducting Research Interviews: managementhelp.org."