Examination Techniques for Interview Assessments
In the world of research, interviews have proven to be a valuable tool in understanding complex human experiences and meanings that other methods may not fully capture. This is particularly true in qualitative research, where the focus is on understanding the nuances, perspectives, and contexts of participants' lives.
In 2020, Goriss-Hunter and White conducted a study using asynchronous email interviews to examine the professional experiences of women at an Australian regional university. This approach allowed them to gather rich, detailed data that captured participants' perspectives in their own words, a key advantage of using interviews over surveys, focus groups, or literature reviews.
One of the key benefits of interviews is their depth and nuance. Unlike surveys, which generally focus on quantifiable, fixed responses, interviews provide detailed, in-depth information that preserves the context and complexity of participants’ experiences. This depth allows researchers to uncover deeper insights into behaviors and experiences, explore complex processes and meanings behind phenomena, and develop new theories or refine existing ones.
Interviews also offer flexibility and responsiveness. Interviewers can adapt questions based on responses, probe for clarification, and explore unexpected topics, which is more constrained in surveys and sometimes in focus groups. This flexibility allows for a more nuanced understanding of the participants' perspectives.
Another advantage of interviews is their ability to capture individual viewpoints without peer influence, which can be critical to understanding personal experiences or sensitive issues. Unlike focus groups, where group dynamics may influence answers, interviews allow for capturing individual viewpoints without the influence of others.
Interviews also situate participants within their social and cultural contexts, aiding researchers in interpreting meanings that may be lost in quantitative methods or literature reviews. This contextual understanding is crucial in understanding the participants' experiences fully.
Interviews can uncover phenomena or variables not previously considered, helping to develop theories or hypotheses for further study. This is a step less accessible via fixed-question surveys or literature summaries.
However, interviews do have their trade-offs. They typically have smaller sample sizes and require more time-consuming data collection and analysis. But these trade-offs are inherent in the strength of depth and context interviews offer.
In summary, interviews in qualitative research excel at uncovering complex, context-dependent human experiences and meanings that other methods may not fully capture. Whether conducted face-to-face, over the phone, or via email, interviews offer a unique opportunity to delve deep into the lives of participants, capturing their personal narratives and understanding their experiences in a way that other methods may not.
References:
- Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). Interviews: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing. SAGE Publications.
- Silverman, D. (2013). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. Left Coast Press.
- Martin, J. L. (1998). Becoming a gendered body: Practices of preschools. Indiana University Press.
- In the field of education-and-self-development and personal-growth, interviews serve as a powerful tool for learning, offering depth and nuance that other methods like surveys or literature reviews may not fully capture, allowing for a more detailed understanding of individuals' experiences.
- Researchers found that interviews, particularly through asynchronous email communication, provide a valuable means of capturing rich, detailed data in the pursuit of understanding complex, context-dependent human experiences, contributing significantly to learning and personal growth.
