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INTERVIEW METHOD
OF DATA COLLECTION

Vũ Thị Minh Hằng

Trần Thị Mỹ Hà

Nguyễn Thị Kim Huệ

Nguyễn Thị Thu Phương

TA

BLE

OF

CO

NT

EN

TS

DEFINITION

TYPES OF INTERVIEW

ADVANTAGES &

DISADVANTAGES OF

INTERVIEW

DIFFERENT MODES

OF INTERVIEW

1. DEFINITION OF INTERVIEW &

THE IMPORTANCE OF

INTERVIEWS IN RESEARCH

Interviewing, rather than a single method, is a family of
research practices which have one thing in common, namely a
discussion between people with one being the researcher; the
person conducting a ‘systematic enquiry’.

(Arksey and Knight, 1999)

An interview is a research method that involves asking
questions to collect data.

1.1. Definition

The role of interview in research

Clarifying research issues, informants’ views and their
frames of reference so that appropriate and meaningful
survey questions can be designed.

Interpreting and understanding some of the more
ambiguous findings that arise from quantitative analysis.

Promoting the robustness of the research findings.

*Note: The interviews may also prove relevant and provide useful
information where interviewees lack the ability or motivation for
completing questionnaires

- A way of obtaining original data directly from interviewees

Structured interviews provide access to a
large

number

of

people

quickly

and

efficiently.

Unstructured

interviews

provide

deeper

insights into interviewees behavior and give
the researcher more flexibility in directing the
discussion.

1.2. The importance of interviews in research

Interviews allow researchers to watch
the interviewee's body language and
form a deeper connection with them.

Increase their chance of getting an
honest answer.

- Interviews have a higher response rate than
emails and questionnaires.

2. ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES

Interviews allow people to provide their
views in their own terminology.

The interactive nature of the interview
allows the researcher to adapt the questions
to suit responses.
elicit relevant information, gain greater
insights

Interviewees can shape the research and
highlight unforeseen, yet relevant issues.

Advantages

Advantages

Interviewees can provide detailed answers
which

are

embedded

in

contextual

information
understand the factors

Interviewees can ask for clarification
gather more accurate information

Disadvantages

Interviews can be time-consuming and
expensive.

The interview can may hamper the
gathering of information

require

interviewers'

skills

and

experience

Disadvantages

There are some certain topics that are
sensitive to discuss.
careful planning frankness
encouragement

If the interviews are conducted by more than
one interviewer, there is a possibility that
each will ask questions differently or not
probe sufficiently.

Interviewing requires skill and awareness to
avoid influencing the interviewee.

3.TYPES OF INTERVIEW

Types of interviews

Semi-structured

interview

Unstructured

interview

Structured
interview

Structured interview

Questions

are

predetermined and
set in a particular
order, closed-ended,
yes/no or multiple-
choice questions.

It is easy to compare
responses

between

participants

and

offer high levels of
credibility

and

validity.

It

has

limited

scope

Unstructured interview

It is flexible and
useful in gather
detailed
information

It doesn't have a
set

pattern.

Questions

are

open-ended and
not arranged in
advance

It

is

hard

to

generalize

the

results and may
consumes a lot of
time

Semi-structured interview

It is blend of structured
and

unstructured

interviews.
Researchers have idea
of the questions to ask,
but the phrasing and
order of the questions
will not be set

Questions

are

often

open-

ended,

flexible,

but

follow

a

predetermined
thematic
framework,
giving a sense of
order.

It is hard to
come up with
goodquestions

4. DIFFERENT MODES

OF INTERVIEW

a. Individual interviews

Provide detailed information about the
meaning of an event, situation or social
context.

Appropriate with sensitive topic

Appropriate with different stories
concerning a setting or context
Ensure interviews are conducted
in private.

b. Group interviews

"'Group interviews are only really appropriate for qualitative approaches and
can be used where there is some benefit in getting a ‘group story’ about a
setting or incident.'' (Morgan 1998)

b. Group interviews

To generate a research question by
tapping into the shared wisdom of
participants.
To encourage conversation between
participants.
To assess the theoretical proposition of
the researcher.

To come to a consensus between
participants.

It is the best way of collecting high

quality data.

Face-to-face interviews are preferable

with the sensitive topics.

c. Face-to-face interviews

A greater degree of flexibility

d. Telephone and Video links

To be enable focus groups and ensure
all are able to participate.

To be known as an effective and
economical way of collecting data.

Suitable for busy professional rand
geographically distributed respondents

Provide

opportunities

through

chat rooms for interviewing

e. Web Interviews

Some

useful

methods:

Email

interviews, bulletin boards and
interactive web sites.

References

Ian, M. (2011) A guide to practitioner research in education.

Interview in Research: Types & Importance | StudySmarter

May, N. & Pope, C. (1995). ‘Qualitative Interviews in Medical Research’.

British Medical Journal, 311: 251 – 253.

Miles, M. & Huberman, A. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis. Thousand

Oaks CA: Sage

Nick, F. (2000). Using Interviews in a Research Project. Publisher: Radcliffe

Medical Press

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