Interview
Research method in psychology
Introduction
•• Interviews are a qualitative research method used
in psychology.
•• They involve direct, face-to-face or virtual
interaction between researcher and participant.
•• Aim: To gather detailed and in-depth information
on thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
TYPES OF
INTERVIEWS
•• Structured Interview –
Pre-determined set of questions.
•• Semi-Structured Interview – Mix
of set questions with flexibility.
•• Unstructured Interview –
Open-ended, conversational style.
Pros vs cons
Weakness of Interviews Strengths of Interviews
•• Time-consuming to conduct and •• Provides rich, detailed qualitative data.
analyze.
•• Risk of interviewer bias. •• Allows exploration of complex behaviors
•• Social desirability bias – and emotions.
participants may give 'expected'
•• Flexible – researcher can probe deeper
answers.
•• Difficult to generalize findings to into responses.
larger populations. •• Can build rapport with participants.
Application in
PSYCHOLOGY
•• Clinical psychology – understanding
patient experiences.
•• Developmental psychology –
studying children and family
dynamics.
•• Social psychology – exploring
attitudes, stereotypes, and behaviors.
•• Health psychology – patient coping
strategies and lifestyle choices.
Conclusion
•• Interviews are a powerful tool for collecting in-depth
psychological data.
•• Best used when exploring complex, personal, or sensitive
topics.
•• Should be balanced with other methods to ensure validity
and reliability.
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