Interviews - Online Engagement and Teaching Hub

What is it?

An interview is a learning activity that can be used to gather relevant information on a particular topic or to elicit the views of individuals. It is an exceptionally powerful tool to conduct research because it helps to connect the researcher to the interviewee and provides the researcher with a first-hand account of the interviewee’s experiences.

There are various types of interviews (for more see Deakin University’s resource ) to choose from depending upon the type of qualitative research that is being pursued:

Structured interviews	Semi-structured interviews	Unstructured interviews
Uses a set of pre-determined interview questions. Methods – personal or phone interviews can be used.	Only a few pre-determined interview questions or stem questions. Allows the interviewer/ researcher some room for flexibility to probe the interviewee/participant for additional details.	Non-directive in nature. Often take place as a normal conversation. Used when researching sensitive matters. Allows for in-depth exploration. Open-ended questions are used, and the interviewer/ participant has the freedom to respond without feeling constrained by set parameters.

Why use it?

Can be used to teach interviewing skills to students.
Promotes student engagement in the class and promotes active interactions between the interviewer/researcher and the interviewee/participant.

How do I do it?

Plan and design the interview taking into consideration:

The purpose of the proposed interview type.
The place to conduct interview – least distraction possible.
Duration of the interview.
Will the interview be recorded? If not, then will you need a notetaker?
Address any ethical concerns such as privacy or confidentiality.

Develop the interview guide detailing:

The aim of the interview.
List of questions in a particular sequence or grouped as required.
Ensure the questions are clear and concise (the questions are likely to be more or less directed depending on the type of interview).

Conduct the interview:

Introduce yourself.
Reiterate the purpose of the research.
Follow the interview guide (if appropriate).

Transcribe, analyse and present the findings of the interview either in the form of a presentation, a brief paper or a class discussion.

Considerations

Consider running a pilot interview session with fellow students or the teacher.
An interview can be used as part of a role-play activity.
Training sessions can also be considered for first-time interviewers. Consider providing an opportunity for students to practise their interview skills with their peers. This can be conducted as an online or face-to-face activity.

Resources

Research methods and interviews from Virginia Tech

Useful tips and strategies for conducting interviews from Imperial College