Interviewing: Phases and Guides

• establish enumerator's role

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• enumerator must study all questions before interview proper

opening remarks, asking the questions, recording the responses

What are the 3 parts of an interview proper?

opening remarks

• includes gaining entry (initial appearance)

• establish rapport immediately

• make sure to look presentable and professional

• introduction, explaining the study

• important: keep it short • do not reveal the details of interviews to others (e.g. what previous respondents said or did)

1. follow instructions and protocol

2. etiquette

3. focus on the target respondent only

4. using the questionnaire

5. ask the questionnaire as it is

6. let the respondent speak freely

7. consult with supervisor when difficulties are encountered

What are the 7 things to remember under asking the questions?

1. record everything

2. avoid dead air

3. use abbreviations where possible

4. write legibly

5. use probes when necessary

6. do not falsify interviews

What are the 4 things to remember under asking the questions?

probing

This have uses, such as:

1. to clarify answers in a non-directive way

2. motivate the respondent

3. make the respondent focus on a particular question

1. say "I don't know" (or any variation)

2. does not answer the question

3. misinterprets the question

4. gives insufficient detail

When do you use probing? When respondents…

1. echo

2. silent

3. recapitulation

4. overt encouragement

5. non-verbal

6. specification

What are the 6 types of probing?

echo

Type of probing where you ask the question again

silent

Type of probing where you stop for a moment.

recapitulation

Type of probing where you summarize and restate the interviewee's response (to verify if they really intended to say something)

overt encouragement

"uh-huh," "okay," etc.

non-verbal

hand gestures, nodding

specification

e.g. after asking respondent's age, ask them birth date for validation

concluding the interview

• complete the interview in one sitting

• check over the questionnaire before leaving the interview

• closing remarks

  • thank the respondent

  • tell the respondent when to expect results

  • do not be hasty

• write down any notes re: how the interview when (e.g. problems encountered)

say use the meaning that seems best for you

What do you do when: respondent wants definition of survey words.

politely note that you can only interview the respondent, but would gladly survey them when the interview is done

What do you do when: others get on and answer instead of the respondent

• try one probe

• if it fails, mark the question as a refusal and proceed to another questionnaire

What do you do when: respondent gets angry at question

• be cool, smile and nod

• never argue

• let off steam afterwards

What do you do when: respondent is infuriating

silent treatment, rude approach, change focus approach

What do you do when: respondent rambles

• thank them for their time

• explain you have another appointment

• reschedule at a convenient time

What do you do when: drunk/high respondent

• thank them for their time

• mark interview as "no eligible respondent"

What do you do when: respondents has disability that makes completion of interview difficult for them