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Research Methods:
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Interview
Dr Vo Thi Kim Anh
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Interview types
What different types of interviews are
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there?
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Interview types
degree of formality: unstructured through
semi-structured to structured
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unstructured interview is guided by the
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responses of the interviewee rather than
the agenda of the researcher. The
researcher exercises little or no control,
and the direction of the interview is
relatively unpredictable.
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Interview types (II)
• Semi-structured interview:
a general idea of where he or she wants the
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interview to go and what should come out of it
a list of topics and issues is prepared rather
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than a set of specific questions.
• Structured interview:
the most formal type of interview.
the agenda is totally predetermined by the
researcher, who works through a list of set 4
questions in a predetermined order
• Most interviews belong to the “semi-
structured interview” type, which offers a
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compromise between the two extremes.
Although there is a set of pre-prepared
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guiding questions and prompts, the format
is open-ended and the interviewee is
encouraged to elaborate on the issues
raised in an exploratory manner.
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Preparing for the interview
Selecting suitable participants and obtain
their informed consent (How?)
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Preparing interview questions
Trialling possible questions
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An interview guide
by ensuring that the domain is properly
covered and nothing important is accidentally
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left out
by suggesting appropriate wordings for the
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questions
by offering a list of useful probe questions to
be used if needed (see below)
by offering a template for the opening
statement
by listing some points for the interviewer to 7
bear in mind during the interview
Question types
• Wh-questions
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• Yes/No questions
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• Follow-up questions
• Clarification questions 8
Question types
backchannelling signals, which encourage the speaker
to continue
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reinforcement feedback, indicating that we are pleased
with the way the interview is going
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negative reinforcement – nudging the speaker to stay
on track, refocusing the interview on the things that
matter (e.g. “Let me stop you here for a moment and go
back to what you said earlier to make sure that I
understood you properly”).
encouraging elaboration – using probes, or encouraging
silences, to encourage the interviewee to say more 9
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Question Types
Minimize use of closed-ended (i.e. yes/no) questions:
in favour of open-ended questions.
For example, rather than asking “Do you like the
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textbook?” one might ask “What do you think of the
textbook?”
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• Avoid leading questions: questions that lead the
interviewee to a particular kind of response.
For example, “What is stressful about speaking
English?”
“How do you feel when speaking English?”
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Question types : Dörnyei (2007)
• The first few questions: These are particularly important in
an interview, not so much from the content point of view
but rather because they set the tone and create initial
rapport.
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• Content questions: Patton (2002) points out that on any
given topic it is possible to ask any of six main types of
question focusing on:
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a)experiences and behaviours,
b)opinions and values,
c) feelings,
d)knowledge,
e)sensory information, and
f) background or demographic information.
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Question Types
Avoid complex questions that ask about several things at
once:
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• for example, “What do you think of the textbook
and how would you improve it?”
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Avoid using terminology which the interviewees may not
understand.
• Consider whether your questions will be
comprehensible to interviewees. For example, even
native speaker teachers may not understand a
question such as “How often do you use reactive
focus on form?”
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Question types (VI): Dörnyei (2007)
• Probes: use what the interviewee has said as a starting
point to go further and to increase the richness and depth
of the responses.
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• “You have used the word “communicative” twice –
what exactly does it mean for you?)
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• The final/closing question. This permits the interviewer to
have the final say.
• Is there anything else you would like to add?”
“What should I have asked you that I didn’t think to
ask?”
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Conducting interviews
• General advice for interviewers from Robson (2002, cited in
Dörnyei 2007) includes the following:
• Listen more than you speak. Most interviewers talk too much.
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The interview is not a platform for the interviewer’s personal
experiences and opinions.
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• Put questions in a straightforward, clear and non-threatening
way. If people are confused or defensive, you will not get the
information you seek.
• Eliminate cues which lead interviewees to respond in a
particular way. Many interviewees will seek to please the
interviewer by giving “correct” responses.
• Enjoy the interview (or at least look as though you do). Don’t
give the messages that you are bored or scared. Vary your
voice and facial expression. 14