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Interview

Interview

Interview

Interview

Interview3

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Interview An interview is a direct face-to-face (voice-to-voice)

attempt to obtain reliable and valid information (data) in the form of verbal responses from one or more respondents.

It is a conversation in which the roles of the interviewer and the respondent change continually.

Advantages Allows the interviewer to clarify questions.

Allows the respondent to respond in any manner they see fit.

Allows the interviewers to observe verbal and non-verbal behaviour of the respondents.

Advantages Means of obtaining personal information, attitudes,

perceptions, and beliefs.

Reduces anxiety so that potentially threatening topics can be studied.

Can be used with young children and illiterates as well as busy professionals.

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Disadvantages Too difficult to summarize. Unstructured

interviews often yield data too difficult to summarize or evaluate.

Too costly and time consuming. Training interviewers, sending them to meet and interview their informants, and evaluating their effectiveness all add to the cost of the study.

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Types of InterviewsInterviews are classified into 2

Structured

unstructured

Structured interviews:characteristics • Are rigidly standardized and formal.

• The same questions are presented in the same manner and order to each subject.

• The choice of alternative answers is restricted to a predetermined list.

• The same introductory and concluding remarks are used.

• They are scientific in nature.

• They introduce controls that permit the formulation of scientific generalizations.

Limitation of the structured interviews

Collecting quantified, comparable data from allsubjects in a uniform manner introduces a rigidityinto the investigative procedures that may prevent theinvestigator from probing in sufficient depth.

Guidelines forconducting structured interviews

Ask questions exactly in their order on the questionnaire.

Ask each question exactly as stated in the questionnaire.

Be patient and show understanding with the respondent.

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Guidelines forconducting structured interviews Record responses exactly as given by the respondent.

Evaluate each response as it is given; clarify any apparent inconsistencies in responses.

Use probes to clarify responses or to help respondents expand on their responses.

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Guidelines forconducting structured interviews Avoid expecting certain responses because you got certain

responses before.

Be relaxed; conduct the interview in an easy going manner.

At the end of the interview, carefully review all responses; go back to any questions that were not answered or only partially answered and try to get a complete response.

Be sure to thank the respondent for his or her cooperation.

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Unstructured interviews.Characteristics• Are flexible with very few restrictions.

• If preplanned questions are asked, they are altered to suit the situation and subjects.

• Subjects are encouraged to express their thoughts freely.

• Only a few questions are asked to direct their answers.

• In some instances, the information is obtained in such a casual manner that the respondents are not aware they are being interviewed.

Advantages of the unstructured interview One can penetrate behind initial answers.

One can follow up unexpected clues.

One can redirect the inquiry into more fruitful channels.

It is very helpful in the exploratory stage of research.

Unstructured interviewDisadvantages• Difficult to quantify the accumulated qualitative data.

• One usually cannot compare data from various interviews and derive generalizations that are universally applicable because of the non-uniform tactics employed.

• Unstructured interviews are not ordinarily employed when testing and verifying hypotheses.

Forms of InterviewsThere are two forms of conducting interviews

Personal interviews

Interviews by telephone

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Forms of interviewsPersonal Interviews In this the interviewer comes face-to-face with the

interviewee

They can guide interviews, explore issues, and probe as the situation requires.

It is very flexible and can be used to collect in-depth amounts of information.

Personal interview can be used in any type of questionnaire and can be conducted fairly quickly (interviewer administered questionnaire)

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Personal interview: Drawbacks Cost per respondent is high

Difficult to follow the guide prepared

Disrupted by social interferences-phone calls

Difficult to maintain the attention of the interviewee

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General factors considered before conducting Personal Interview

Determine when to interview.

Locate clear, airy & safe environment

Observe the emotional status of the interviewee

Determine if the respondent is telling the truth.

Check for sources of bias

Leave the respondent.

Telephone Interviewinga. It is a form of interview where the interviewer

has no personal contact with the interviewee

b. The interview is via phone

c. It is a quick method since respondent can be reached thousands of miles away

d. More sensitive questions can be asked since both parties are not together

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Drawbacks of telephone interviewsa. Some people may not want to discuss personal

questions with interviewer

b. Interviewer’s manner of speaking may affect the respondent’s answers

c. Different interviewers may interpret and record response in a variety of ways

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Steps in conducting telephone interviews Prepare a guide to use for the interview

Locate and contact respondents;

Introduce yourself to the respondents;

Conduct the interview, using your guide

Review the completed questionnaire for completeness and accuracy;

Do a final edit of responses.

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Check your emphasis when interviewinga. Were you there last night?

b. Were you there last night?

c. Were you there last night?

d. Were you there last night?

e. Were you there last night?

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Errors in interviewinga) Errors in asking questions occur whenever an

inappropriate question is asked where the response to the question will not satisfy the objectives of the investigation.

b) Errors in probing occur when the interviewer does not allow the respondent sufficient time to respond or when he anticipates what the response will be.

Errors in interviewingc) Errors in motivating respondents can be a source of

invalidity. Unless respondents are motivated by interviewers to answer questions to the best of their ability, they are likely to be uncooperative.

d) Errors in recording responses occur when the interviewer records the respondent’s answers inaccurately by omitting information.

Interviewer Errorsi. The Unprepared Interviewer

ii. The Talkative Interviewer

iii.The Opinionated Interviewer

iv.The Argumentative Interviewer

v. The Inattentive Interviewer

vi.The Fraternizing Interviewer

vii.The Captive Interviewer

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Appendix I: The Community Interview schedule1. Which projects, supported/implemented by this

NGO are implemented in this village?

2. How did these projects start?

3. How have you as individuals been directly affected (positively or negatively) by these projects?

4. What has been/is the level of your involvement in the designing and implementation of these projects?

5. How have these projects addressed the “real” needs of this community?

Appendix 1-cont’d6. How do you and the rest of the community, and government perceive these projects?

7. What are some of the challenges that are associated with these projects in the process of their implementation in this village?

8. What are your suggestions that can enable the effective implementation of these projects in order to benefit you better?

9. Do you have any other comment in relation to the discussion we have just had?

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Appendix 2:Household Interview Schedule1. What projects are implemented by the NGO in this village?2. How were the projects started? 3. How were/are these projects funded? 4. Whose ideas are the projects that you have implemented in

your village? 5. How have the projects contributed to social and economic

welfare in your household? 6. What has been the negative impact of the NGO Projects on

your household? 7. What is your perception of the projects implemented by the

NGO’s in your village? 8. How does government perceive/view these projects

implemented by the NGOs in your village?

Appendix 2- cont’d9. How would you describe your level of ownership of the projects implemented by the NGO in your village?

10. To whom is the NGO accountable to?

11. What is your opinion regarding current/future funding of projects implemented by the NGO in your village?

12. What are some of the constraints that you know affect the implementation of the NGO’s projects in your village?

13. What would you recommend in order to improve the performance of how projects are designed and implemented to benefit your household level?

14. Is there anything more that you would like to add to this conversation?

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Appendix 3: KRC – Groups Interview Schedule1. Name of your Group

2. District /Village

3. When did your group start?

4. Who started it?

5. Why was your group started?

6. What brings you together as members?

7. What activities do you implement?

Appendix 3-cont’d8. Whose ideas are the activities that you implement?

9. How are these activities financed?

10. How have these activities impacted on the communities/your members?

11. How successful are the activities that you implement with the support of the NGO or other donor support?

12. What are the factors responsible for the success or failure of your work?

13. What have been the negative effects of these activities on to your members and the communities you serve?

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Interview Response Rate (IRR)

IRR= the number of completed interviews x100the number of expected interviews

If 165 were captured by sampling frame for interview and you end up interviewing 103 COMPLETELY, then

IRR =[103/165] X 100

=62.42%

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The End

Keep Designing

interview guides

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Self assessment

Prepare a five (5) item interview guide to collect bio-data on an interviewee

Differentiate between telephone and personal interview methods/types.

State any 2 reasons why you will use an interview to collect data instead of questionnaire.

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