Designing and conducting interviews

A structured interview is

• Interviewer has a set list of questions to lead the conversation, a framework which will be rigidly stuck to.

• Interviewer may have a list of topics or questions, but has extra flexibility to lead the conversation further.

• The interviewer develops and uses a list of questions and topics that need to be covered during the conversation. The interviewer follows the guide, but is able to follow the conversation if it strays from the guide.

• The interviewer does not prepare any questions. They respond intuitively and spontaneously.

An unstructured interview is

• Interviewer has a set list of questions to lead the conversation, a framework which will be rigidly stuck to.

• Interviewer may have a list of topics or questions, but has extra flexibility to lead the conversation further.

• The interviewer develops and uses a list of questions and topics that need to be covered during the conversation. The interviewer follows the guide, but is able to follow the conversation if it strays from the guide.

• The interviewer does not prepare any questions. They respond intuitively and spontaneously.

An semi-structured interview is

• Interviewer has a set list of questions to lead the conversation, a framework which will be rigidly stuck to.

• Interviewer may have a list of topics or questions, but has extra flexibility to lead the conversation further.

• The interviewer develops and uses a list of questions and topics that need to be covered during the conversation. The interviewer follows the guide, but is able to follow the conversation if it strays from the guide.

• The interviewer does not prepare any questions. They respond intuitively and spontaneously.

Which of the following is not a formal interview style?

• Interviewer has a set list of questions to lead the conversation, a framework which will be rigidly stuck to.

• Interviewer may have a list of topics or questions, but has extra flexibility to lead the conversation further.

• The interviewer develops and uses a list of questions and topics that need to be covered during the conversation. The interviewer follows the guide, but is able to follow the conversation if it strays from the guide.

• The interviewer does not prepare any questions. They respond intuitively and spontaneously.

When designing an interview, questions should be designed NOT to be

• evocative

• judgemental

• leading

• all of the above

What is a probe in an interview context?

• Follow up questions to 'probe' for more in depth answers.

• Medical device used to test a person's temperature.

• A closed ended question to illicit an opinion.

• None of the above

Which of the following is an example of a probing question?

• Can you give me an example of what you mean?

• Can you tell me about a time that you felt really aware of climate change?

• Can you tell me about an experience where you felt really aware of environmental change?

• What personal steps do you take to prevent climate change?

Which of the following is NOT a probing question?

• Please tell me more about that?

• Can you explain what makes you say that?

• Can you give me an example?

• Did you enjoy the experience?

Which of the following should an interviewer avoid?

• Maintaining eye contact and body language

• Share your own opinions, experiences or advice

• Paraphrase and summarise to show you understand what they are saying

• Listen without judging

Before interviewing your first person in a semi-structured interview, what steps do you need to take?

• Write your questions

• Test our your questions by having a 'mock' interview with a friend

• Improving your questions based on feedback and your experience from the pilot

• All of the above