Sequence of events in an interview

The first event is to introduce, establish relationship and explain the aim of interview. Also, explain
who you are, what are you doing, negotiate issues of anonymity and the boundaries of
confidentiality, what will happen to the findings and how long will the interview last. Try to warm-up
by asking simple questions or throw-away questions, usually factual in orientation. The main body of
the interview must cover the list of issues. Finish the interview on uncontentious areas, easy
questions especially, if previous ones have been ‘difficult’. Closure should be like thanksgiving.

Types of questions

 Factual & Descriptive- Respondent provides details about activities.

 Structural- Respondent organize their knowledge, categories used and the meaning of the
words.
 Contrast- Meaning of situations to respondents, comparison with other events in their lives.
 Generative- Deployed in life story or narrative research, formulated broadly but also
sufficiently specific for the domain of interest to be taken up as the central theme.

Berg’s Four Styles of Question

 Essential- Concerned with central focus of the study.

 Extra- Roughly equivalent to certain essential questions but worded slightly differently.
 Throw-away- Used to develop rapport, demographics or general details.
 Questions around the Research- Can be used for cooling off or containment.

Probing or Prompting means drawing out more complete accounts, elaboration.