TOPIC – INTERVIEW MTHOD
Topic – INTERVIEW METHOD
Session No.: 5
Course Name: SOCIOLOGY
Course Code: L3UA104T
Instructor Name: Dr. SAHIL PAWARIA (PT)
Duration: 50 mins
Date of Conduction of Class: 28-09-2025
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LOs: Upon completion of this session, the students will be able to:
To understand the meaning, types, and process of the
interview method in sociology
To apply the interview method in real-life fields like
physiotherapy
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Title
•Interview Method in Sociology
•Collecting information through face-to-face or personal conversation
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What is Interview Method?
•Interview = talking to people to collect facts or opinions
•Researcher asks questions, respondent gives answers
•Helps in getting real-life experiences and feelings
•Example: A physiotherapist asking patients about pain and exercise habits
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Why Interviews are Important?
•Direct contact builds trust
•Researcher can explain questions clearly
•Useful when written questionnaires are not possible
•Example: Some elderly patients cannot read/write, so interview is better
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Features of Interview Method
•Two-way communication (researcher + respondent)
•Can be face-to-face, phone or online
•Flexible – researcher may change order of questions if needed
•Example: In physiotherapy, questions may change depending on patient’s
condition
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Types of Interviews (1)
• Structured Interview
• Fixed set of questions, same for all
• Easy to compare answers
• Example: Asking every patient: "How many days per week do you
exercise?"
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Types of Interviews (2)
•Unstructured Interview
Free discussion, no fixed order
More natural conversation
•Semi-structured Interview
Some fixed + some open questions
Example: A physiotherapist asking, "Tell me about your daily routine and
how pain affects it.
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Steps in Interview Method
[Link] questions carefully
[Link] respondents (who will be interviewed)
[Link] the interview – ask questions and note answers
[Link] and organise the responses
• Example: A physiotherapist interviewing 20 back-pain patients, then
analysing lifestyle patterns
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Merits (Advantages)
•Provides detailed and rich information
•Can observe facial expressions and emotions
•Researcher can clear doubts on the spot
•Example: Patient may show how they do an exercise, revealing mistakes
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Limitations (Disadvantages)
• Time-consuming and costly
• Researcher’s bias may affect results
• Some people may hide facts or feel shy
• Example: A patient may not admit to skipping home exercises
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Uses of Interview Method
•To study attitudes, beliefs and social behaviour
•To plan social programs and health services
•Example: Interviews with stroke patients help design better physiotherapy
rehab plans
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Interview vs Questionnaire
• Questionnaire = written answers, less personal
• Interview = direct conversation, more flexible
• Example: Questionnaire → "Do you exercise daily?"
• Interview: → "Why do you find it difficult to exercise daily?"
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Conclusion
•Interview is a powerful tool in sociology
•Helps understand real feelings, not just written answers
•In physiotherapy, interviews help to:
Know patient’s lifestyle
Find barriers to treatment
Improve recovery by social support
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Attainment of LOs in alignment to the
learning activities:
Students will able to explain the
interview method and its types ?
Students will be able to apply
the interview method in
physiotherapy domain.
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LEARNING ACTIVITY
• TELL ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW WITH YOUR
CLASSMATES DISCUSSION ?
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THANK YOU
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