Interview

According to APA interview is a directed conversation in which a researcher, therapist,

clinician, employer, or the like (the interviewer) intends to elicit specific information
from an individual (the interviewee) for purposes of research, diagnosis, treatment,
or employment. Conducted face to face, by telephone, or online, interviews may be
either standardized, including set questions, or open ended, varying with material
introduced in responses by the interviewee.

Interview is interaction between two or more people. The situations may differ. In
some interviews it is one to one interaction, in others it might be that a single person
is taking interview of many people at the same time, like family interviews that are
conducted for therapy.

“Interview is a method for gathering data or information about individual” (Kaplan &
Saccuzzo, 2005). Thus interview is conversation with a purpose. Conversation may
not have purpose and start anywhere and stop anywhere without assignment of
specific role of individuals interacting. Although there are many types and purposes
of interview, all share certain factors.

Types of Interview

Interviews are classified in different categories depending upon the procedure

employed.

Structured Interviews
As the name implies the structured interviews are the ones in which interviewer asks
a pre planned set of questions in the same manner and sequence for each client. This
method is used when same information is required from all interviewees or for
getting information from the same client on other occasions. Asking set questions in
a set order can help you see patterns among responses, and it allows you to easily
compare responses between participants while keeping other factors constant. This
can mitigate research biases and lead to higher reliability and validity. However,
structured interviews can be overly formal, as well as limited in scope and flexibility.

Unstructured interviews
Unstructured interview is opposite to structured interview. An unstructured interview
is the most flexible type of interview. The questions and the order in which they are
asked are not set. Instead, the interview can proceed more spontaneously, based on
the participant’s previous answers. The interviewer may have an idea about possible
questions but depending upon the needs of the client, the order and sequence of
questions can be changed, modified etc. by the interviewer.

Semi-Structured Interview
Semi-structured interview is a blend of structured and unstructured interview. While
the interviewer has a general plan for what they want to ask, the questions do not
have to follow a particular phrasing or order. Many times semi structured method is
used to minimize the disadvantages of both methods. Certain questions are always
asked, but there is freedom to add questions. Semi-structured interviews are often
open-ended, allowing for flexibility, but follow a predetermined thematic framework,
giving a sense of order.

Reference:

https://dictionary.apa.org/interview

Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2005) Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications, and Issues

George, T. (2022, December 02). Types of Interviews in Research | Guide & Examples.
Scribbr. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from
https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/interviews-research/