Another great presentation by Dr Yousef

1. @kaimrc_edu
1

2. INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES
Oyindamola B. YUSUF
Biostatistician
KAIMRC-WR

3. Lecture Outline
• Introduction
• Selecting your Respondent
• The interview setting
• How to start the interview
• Asking the questions
• Tips
• Exiting
• Role Plays

4. Introduction
• Definition
• Types of interviews
• Importance of training
• Collecting Valid and reliable data
• Preparations
• Record keeping
• Noting errors
• Experience

5. What is an Interview
• An art of eliciting information
– Develops with practice
• A good interview elicits accurate information

6. Types of Interviews
• Face to face
• Telephone
• Mail
• Internet

7. Face to Face interview
• In a face-to-face survey, an interviewer is
physically present to ask the survey questions
and to assist the respondent in answering
them.

8. Telephone Interview
• Interview conducted over the telephone

9. Importance of training
• Consistency
• Standardization
• Project peculiarities
• Accuracy of information

10. Preparation
• Decide where to go (have a time table and route
guide to determine your daily movement)
• Supervisors should have a time table/movement
plan to be explained and shared with
interviewers

11. • List required materials
Adequate number of appropriate questionnaires
Stationeries (at least 2 of each, e.g. biros, pens
etc)
An identification card or letter of introduction

12. • Determine the best time for the interview:
household interviews would be preferable in early
evening during the week or daytime on a weekend
• Have a clear understanding of the purpose and
objectives of the study and the questions to be
answered

13. Travel
• Plan to leave on time
• Be mindful of local peculiarities to guide your
movement and timing, but, never be LATE
• Decide time and place of departure
• Ensure you have enough funds for the day’s
activities
• Have a little extra just incase!

14. Locating the selected
household/respondent
• Follow the sampling procedures
• Supervisors should have a list of areas to visit
• At each area, identify a landmark (e.g. a mosque/big
building)
• Toss a coin, if it shows a head, proceed in the right
direction, if it shows a tail, proceed in the left direction

15. • Enter every consecutive house
house Vs Household
• Remember the inclusion criteria ( note the
type of questionnaire)
• Identify the eligible respondent

16. THE INTERVIEW SETTING
• A place where the interview is conducted
• Characteristics of a good setting
– Quiet
– Avoid distractions

17. Characteristics of a good setting
• Request that radio/television/mobile phone be
switched off
• Insist on privacy right from the beginning of the
interview
• Third party is not welcome at any time
• Interviewer to locate a suitable venue for the
interview

18. AREA
• Be aware of the area, assess the situation and
observe the people
• Stay alert and tuned to your surroundings
• Do not day dream
• Know where you are going and work with
confidence

19. • Talk to children, they can be helpful passing along
information about who you are
• If anyone asks who you are, briefly tell them who you
are and what you are doing. They may pass the word
along
• Park your car in a convenient, but open area. Move it
as necessary as you work

20. Multiunit buildings
• Carry a flashlight- apartment building hallways
can be dark even during daytime. Often light
bulbs are burned out or broken
• Make small noise, such as a low whistle or
rattle your keys as you walk in the hallway or
up a staircase. You do not want to startle or
surprise anyone who might be hanging around
• Go right to the selected apartment and do
your business

21. • Mind your business
• Don’t look/appear interested in what people are
doing in the hallway
• Do not stare
• You should acknowledge them with a nod, smile, or
brief eye contact, but go directly to the apartment-
that’s your task
• Be aware, but do not concentrate on any other
things going on in the apartment building
• If you appear too interested, people will think, “what
do you want, what are you looking at?”

22. • Determine whether it is safe to enter the
apartment to conduct the interview
• If you are unsure, do the interview at the door

23. Entry meeting
• Arrive at household on time with personal ID
card, questionnaire and relevant materials
• Introductions
• Explain purpose of visits
• Give overview of survey (be knowledgeable
about research process)
– Do not read out your cover letter
• Solicit for support and begin the interview

24. How to start
• Briefly describe why the study is being done
and identify the sponsors.
– This is impressive and lends credibility to the
study.
• Justify why the respondent should complete
the questionnaire.
– The justification must be something that will
benefit the respondent.

25. • Describe your "confidentiality/anonymity”
• Give the name and phone number of
someone they can call with questions.
•

26. Conducting the interview
• Establish Rapport
• Use a positive approach
• Use the instrument
• Do not prejudge the respondent
• Ensure that questionnaires are administered
by interviewers and not by respondents (self
administered)
• Take notes
• Do not react to unusual responses

27. How to establish Rapport
• Maintain a friendly tone
• Make a good first impression.
• Always have a positive approach.
• Stress confidentiality of responses when
necessary.
• Answer any questions from the respondent
frankly.

28. TIPS TO CONDUCT A GOOD INTERVIEW
• Be courteous to your subject.
• Always take time to ask for an explanation
about things you don't understand.
• Don’t be afraid of uncomfortable silences and
pauses.
• Never suggest answers to the respondent

29. • Let the interview take its natural course.
• Appear confident
– Look the person in the eye when asking questions.
• Always listen carefully to the answers. Each
answer could lead to more questions or
include an answer to a question you haven’t
asked yet. Don't ask a question that has
already been answered. Your subject will
know you weren't listening and be insulted.

30. • Don't read through your questions one right
after another like you can't wait to be
finished.
• Conduct your interview like a conversation.
One question should lead naturally into
another. If you are LISTENING to the answers
this will come naturally!

31. More Tips
• Asking Closed ended questions
– Review
• Asking open ended questions
– Review

32. Exiting
• Check questionnaire for completeness
• Ask respondent if he/she has any questions
• Remember to say thank you !

33. Role plays
• Use draft questionnaire on smoking

34. • I wish you all the best in the research process
• THANK YOU