How to do a research interview

Summary

This video script contrasts a poorly executed interview with a more effective one, highlighting the importance of good interviewing techniques. It summarizes 10 characteristics of a good interviewer as outlined by Steiner Cavala, such as being knowledgeable, clear, gentle, sensitive, open, flexible, steering, critical, and remembering. The first interview lacks rapport, structure, and depth, while the second demonstrates these qualities, yielding richer information and a more comfortable interviewee.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses 10 characteristics of a good interviewer as outlined by Steiner Cavala in his 1996 book 'Interviews'.
• 🧐 Knowledgeability is crucial for an interviewer, who should be familiar with the interview topic and have prior experience.
• 🗣️ The interviewer should provide structure, explaining the purpose of the interview and ensuring a proper conclusion.
• 💬 Clarity is key; questions should be simple, easy, short, and free from jargon.
• 🕊️ Gentleness in an interview involves allowing the interviewee to finish speaking, tolerating pauses, and not interrupting prematurely.
• 👂 Sensitivity means attentive listening and empathizing with the interviewee.
• 🔄 Openness requires the interviewer to respond to what is important for the interviewee and adapt to the direction of the conversation.
• 🛠️ Flexibility allows the interviewer to adjust the questioning style based on the interviewee's responses.
• 🚢 Steering is about knowing what information the interviewer seeks and using questions and probes to obtain it.
• 🤔 Critical thinking involves challenging inconsistencies or ambiguities in the interviewee's responses.
• 🔑 Memory is important for the interviewer to recall what has been discussed and avoid repetition.
• 📝 Interpretation involves clarifying and extending the meaning of the interviewee's statements, sometimes through summarization.
• 👥 Balance is achieved by not talking too much or too little, ensuring active participation from the interviewee.
• 🔒 Ethical sensitivity ensures the interviewee understands the research's purpose and that their responses will be confidential.

Q & A

What are the 10 characteristics of a good interviewer according to Steiner Cavala's book?

The 10 characteristics include being knowledgeable, giving structure, being clear, gentle, sensitive, open, flexible, steering, critical, remembering, and interpreting.

What additional criteria does Steiner Cavala add to the list of good interviewer characteristics?

Cavala adds being balanced in terms of speaking amount and being ethically sensitive.

What is the main purpose of the research in the video?

The main purpose is to understand people's experiences with driving, particularly learning to drive and events surrounding the driving test.

How does the interviewer in the first interview example fail to meet the criteria for a good interviewer?

The interviewer fails by not explaining the context, lacking eye contact, not building rapport, accepting short answers without follow-up, and ending the interview abruptly without allowing the interviewee to add anything else.

What does the interviewer in the second interview example do to establish rapport with the interviewee?

The interviewer in the second example provides a clear introduction, explains the purpose of the research, checks for consent, offers reassurances about the interview process, and asks if the interviewee has any questions before starting.

How does the second interviewer differ in terms of question asking compared to the first?

The second interviewer asks more open-ended questions, provides follow-up prompts, and encourages the interviewee to elaborate on their experiences, leading to a more in-depth conversation.

What is the ethical consideration mentioned by the interviewer in the second interview example?

The ethical consideration includes informing the interviewee about the purpose of the interview, the option to stop at any time, and the confidentiality of their answers.

What was the interviewee's experience with driving freedom according to the second interview?

The interviewee enjoyed the freedom that driving provided, such as going wherever and whenever they wanted, despite occasional stress from traffic.

Can you describe a specific stressful situation the interviewee encountered while driving, as mentioned in the second interview?

The interviewee described getting stuck in traffic behind a slow driver, unable to do anything but wait for the traffic to move, which was frustrating.

What was the interviewee's experience with their driving test according to the second interview?

The interviewee recalled being nervous but focused on passing the test for the freedom it would bring. They mentioned a near miss with a cyclist during the test but were ultimately successful in passing on their first attempt.

How did the interviewee feel when they found out they passed the driving test?

The interviewee felt exhilarated and happy, rushing home to celebrate and share the news, and then going for a drive to enjoy their newfound freedom.