INTERVIEW GUIDE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

INTERVIEWS AND QUESTIONNAIRES1

The interview and the questionnaire are two of the techniques that can be used in practice.
interrogation process.

Interviews are forms of reflective questioning; questionnaires are forms

of standardized questioning.

Both consist of a communicative interaction that revolves around a particular topic,

in the interview the interaction occurs through dialogue (immediacy relationship), in the
questionnaire the interaction takes place through written and coded means (relationship
mediated).

The interview has dynamic and flexible characteristics, the questionnaire presents a
static and controlled structure.

The planning of any interrogation technique is done through the 'Guide of

topics" or "Protocol of questions."

The 'Question Protocol' is the result of:

Relevant readings related to the research topic.
[Link] (through observations or conversations) of the context where
the techniques will be applied.
c. discussions with experts or knowledgeable individuals in the field.
creativity.

A good protocol is more than a list of questions; it is a guide (for the interviewer and
for the questioned) in the process of collection (technique) and recording (instrument)
the data, while also providing a preliminary framework for subsequent organization and
data analysis.

In interviews, the protocol is a list of topics around which discussions are established.
open questions that generate and allow to maintain the process of interaction between the
interviewer and the interviewee; in the questionnaires the protocol consists of a series of
closed questions grouped by themes, this in turn becomes the instrument
of data registration and in the medium through which the involved people interact
in the process of interrogation.

INTERVIEW GUIDE2

The protocol is a memory aid for the interviewer, both in one sense
thematic (helps to remember the topics of the interview) as conceptual (presents the
interview topics in everyday language, typical of the interviewees.

El protocolo debe ser flexible y permitirdar cabida al surgimiento de nuevas preguntas

and even new topics during the development of the interview. When this happens, the
1
14. Interviews and questionnaires. Silvia Aguirre Cauhé. In: Ethnography. Qualitative methodology of the.
sociocultural research. A. Aguirre Baztan (Ed.) Alfaomega. Mexico. 1995
2
SOURCE: Beyond the Dilemma of Methods. Elssy Bonilla, Penélope Rodríguez. Norma Editorial Group.
Bootá. 2005
 INTERVIEW GUIDE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

The protocol must be modified for future interviews, including the new topics.
and/or excluding those that do not seem relevant.

Depending on the type of interview, the research protocol will take the form of:
a. A general guide of topics, presented as an introductory paragraph of a
conversation between the interviewer and the interviewee (unstructured interview)
narrative interview). A specific time can be assigned to each topic for
establish an approximate duration for the interview.
b. Unlisted specific questions for which answers are expected
(structured interview, surveys).
c. Unlisting of specific questions with a set of possible answers
which the interviewee can select the most suitable according to their opinion for
then explain and discuss the reason for his decision.

Recommendations for writing questions:

Types of questions3:
Questions about experiences or behaviors: they inquire about what one does or has done.
made a person (experiences, behaviors, actions, and activities).
What is a day like for you when one of your family members is sick in bed?
Questions about opinions: what people think about a particular topic.
What do you think about...? What is your opinion on...?
Questions about feelings: the goal is to understand the emotional response of the
people with their experiences and thoughts, trying not to confuse feelings with
opinions.
How do you feel about that situation? (anxious, happy, scared, confident, intimidated)
etc.
Knowledge questions: they inquire about aspects that the person knows.
specifically.
What precautions should be taken to avoid accidents in your workplace?
Questions about sensations: they refer to what the person sees, hears, smells, touches, etc.
in a particular situation.
What does your neighborhood look like?
What things have you heard about the vaccination campaign?
Questions of a historical or demographic nature: they identify the characteristics
personal information of the informant.
¿Cuando nació? ¿Cuántos años tiene? ¿Dónde vive?

Sequence of questions:
The interviews begin with questions about demographic identification.
interviewed.
The questions following the identification inquire about behaviors,
activities or experiences, with themes that do not require much memory or
interpretation by the interviewee.
Later, once progress has been made on the topic, feelings are questioned.
opinions and knowledge.

Drafting of the questions:

3
Beyond the dilemma of methods. TABLE 5.6. TYPE OF QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWS
QUALITATIVE. Source: Andrade, Shedlin and Bonilla-Castro (1987:59).
 INTERVIEW GUIDE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

The questions in an interview should not predetermine the responses of the interviewee.
therefore the following suggestions are made:
Formulate open questions that allow the interviewee to respond in their own words.
own terms and from their own point of view.
Avoid dichotomous questions (yes, no), as they reduce the possibility of delving into the
answers.
-Formular preguntas singulares, que cuestionen sobre solo un tema a la vez.
Avoid asking why, as it leads the interviewee to find themselves in the task of
to explain something that one does not understand, and therefore give false explanations.
Include simulation questions that place the interviewee in the role of an expert.
about the topic.

General suggestions4:
Short questions are the best.
2. The questions must be presented clearly, that is to say:
a. Avoid words that can have multiple meanings;
b. Avoid questions that contain two answers or two alternatives;
c. Specify the time, place, and context when required.
3. The questions must be relevant to the general topic of the research: no
to ask something that later will not be known how to handle.
4. When the topic is not very familiar to the interviewee, or there is doubt about it,
One should start by making a brief initial explanation.
5. It is preferable to ask relevant questions about immediate and concrete experience.
interviewed.
6. Innuendos or biased or prejudiced terms should be avoided.
7. Do not assume that the interviewee agrees with the interviewer or disagrees.
Ask him/her directly.

Thematic techniques and in-depth tactics5.

Funnel tactic: propose topics from their most general aspect to the most specific.
specifically to maintain a logical order during the interview.
Clarification: for more information. The interviewee is asked to repeat what was said.
Silence: the interviewer, by remaining silent, creates the expectation of providing new
information to the interviewee.
Expansion: ask the interviewee to provide us with new information based on the data
previous provided.
Repetition: repetition of the question after having answered in another sense.
Clarification of inconsistencies: information is repeated when it is contradictory to
another obtained previously, so that the subject decides on one version or the other.
Confirmation of feelings: expressing what the interviewee has implied in the
previous response to confirm it.
Summary of key ideas: summarize the latest responses. It is mainly used for
redirect the interview.
Counterexamples: by means of a counterexample to an idea expressed by the interviewee.
is meant to make you reflect.

4
Beyond the methods dilemma. TABLE 5.7. HOW TO WRITE THE QUESTIONS
Source: Bonilla-Castro (1987). Teaching material from the Seminar on qualitative evaluation methods,
CEDE, University of the Andes (mimeographed).
5
14. Interviews and questionnaires. Silvia Aguirre Cauhé. In: Ethnography. Qualitative methodology of the
investigación sociocultural. A. Aguirre Baztan (Ed.) Alfaomega. México. 1995
 INTERVIEW GUIDE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

Willful misunderstanding: to make the interviewee understand that we did not understand what they said.
commented with the aim that he explains and exemplifies his speech to us again.

FORMAT.
The question protocol is a guide that the interviewer has to conduct from
this is the interview, unlike a questionnaire where the list of questions can
to be delivered or sent to the person who applies, in the interviews it is the interviewer
who remains with the protocol.

1. Presentation.
The protocol begins with a general presentation of the project, with the objectives.
(information requirements) and the total duration of the interview.

2. Instructions.
The second part of the protocol contains some instructions for the performance of the
interview. These instructions are generally suggestions made to
interviewer about how to start the interview, the duration of time, the main topics
important, or the actions that should be taken in case of any inconvenience.

3. Body.
The third part of the interview begins with the questions. These should be grouped.
according to the topics or the information requirements that have been determined in the 'Guide'
of field work.
The first questions are about personal (optional) and demographic identification.
interviewee. It is important that these questions provide a general idea of the
person questioned with the aim of directly relating it to the part of the sample that
represents.
After identification, the questions or topics are placed in groups
each of the topics.

4. Closure.
At the end of the body of questions in the interview, it is suggested to leave a space of time.
for the interviewee to review the interview with the interviewee for
that this adds any information it considers necessary.

QUESTIONNAIRE GUIDE6
Types of questions according to their function within the questionnaire:
Informative: These are the ones that make up the questionnaire and aim to inform us about
the topic that we propose to study.
Filter or sieve: these are questions that, depending on their answers, can lead to
to other questions within the questionnaire.
Preparatory and introductory questions: to prepare the respondent about a topic of which
It will address the survey or simply to capture interest in the questionnaire itself.
For distraction: they are used to distract the subject responding to the questionnaire.

6
14. Interviews and questionnaires. Silvia Aguirre Cauhé. In: Ethnography. Qualitative methodology of the
sociocultural research. A. Aguirre Baztan (Ed.) Alfaomega. Mexico. 1995
 INTERVIEW GUIDE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

Control checks: they are used to verify whether the subject is answering truthfully or not. The check is carried out
same question in two different ways and placed far apart from each other in the
questionnaire.

Types of questions according to form

1. Open: the subject can respond freely with whatever they want. They have greater validity and
They do not create reactance due to the lack of limitation in both content and the way of responding.
They provide more qualitative information about explanations and justifications.
They also require less work in their formulation. The disadvantages are the difficulty
interpretation and analysis of the content of the responses. They also require more effort.
on the part of the person responding.
2. Closed or multiple choice: alternatives are given for response and you must choose.
one of them. Among its advantages, we can highlight that they are easier to code and
analyze. Its reliability is high, which is not the case with validity. As a disadvantage, to say
which force to artificially choose an alternative.
They are classified as:
2.1 Dichotomous
Which lead to the type of questions:
Yes
No
Don't know
Does not answer
2.2 Multiple choice:
To know more opinions, we can also include justifications in the alternatives.
aunque debemos aseguramos de que todas las alternativas posibles se encuentren
reflected.
Very much agreed
Quite agree
Neither in agreement nor in disagreement
Quite disagree
Very much disagree
3. Of preferences:
They provide more information, although they should not be excessively the gas, resulting
difficult to analyze.
4. Estimation or evaluation scales.

Types of questions according to their approach to the topic:

Misconduct: They deal with actions or behavior related to the subject and that the
subject knows.
Deeds: They are similar to those of conduct, although they involve action and participation.
direct of the subject on the survey topic.
Opinion: They ask the respondent what they think about the topic.
Deintention: The subject is asked how they would act in a certain situation.
Disinformation: Its purpose is to determine whether the respondents have a deep understanding of a topic.
determined.

FORMAT
 INTERVIEW GUIDE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

The protocol that guides the application of a questionnaire is a list of closed questions.
and generally limited to a series of multiple-choice answers. Unlike
the interview in which the protocol serves only as a guide, in the questionnaire the
protocol is both the recording instrument of information and also a
tool for organizing and subsequently analyzing information.
The application of the questionnaire can be done either in person or remotely.
having as a general difference, with respect to the interview, that it is applied to a
wider number of people.

1. Presentation:
These are the first questions of the survey, referring to general data of the research. They
pregunta información como nombre de la encuesta, número de cuestionario, entidad,
lugar, fecha y hora de elaboració[Link]én pueden identificarse el entrevistador y el
interviewed in case your application is done in person.

2. Instructions:
Provide the person completing the general information questionnaire about the
procedure to be followed.

3. Identification:
Information is asked about the person: age, sex, status, religion, situation
labor, profession, etc. It also includes questions directly related to the
theme of the questionnaire for subsequent categorization of the respondents
the questions.

4. On the topic addressed in the survey:

In this part, questions related to the topic are formulated.
(See types of questions).

5. Closure:
In its final part, the questionnaire can offer the person who completed it the opportunity
to complement any question with additional information. In addition to this, it is
They can give instructions on what to do (such as returning the questionnaire, what steps)
they continue in the investigation, etc.) once the process is completed, or include a small
gratitude.

Complementary sources:
Urban Imaginaries: Towards the Development of an Urbanism from the Citizens. Methodology.
Armando Silva. Andrés Bello Agreement. National University of Colombia. 2004.

Ethnography. Qualitative methodology of sociocultural research. Angel Aguirre Baztan.

Alfaomega. Mexico. 1995