METHODOLOGY INTERVIEW & QUESTIONNAIRE - Dr. Elizabeth M METHODOLOGY INTERVIEW & QUESTIONNAIRE - Dr. Elizabeth M. Anthony Humanities Department FSTPi, UTHM

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 [1] INTERVIEW Interviewing plays an important role in the process of gathering information. Another person in the field may be the best, most up-to-date source for the information you need. Library materials in fast- changing fields may be out-dated. Talking to authorities is an excellent way not only to verify information, but to expand and adapt info learned about in print. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

INTERVIEW How to Do an Interview??? INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES!!! THE SEVEN GUIDELINES FOR AN INTERVIEW Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

SEVEN INTERVIEW GUIDELINES Prepare your approach carefully. Make a question list. Do not trust to memory. Keep your interruptions to a minimum. If you cannot understand an explanation, ask question. When subjects rumble, return to your question list. When your time is up, be sure to keep the lines of communication open. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

1. PREPARE YOUR APPROACH CAREFULLY Preparation is the basis for a successful interview. People are busy; they would stop for interview only if they sense that it is not a waste of time. If you approach the people you want to interview too casually, they are less likely to clear time for you. Before you ask for an interview, do your homework: - Do background reading, note taking and collection of data. - If you are writing for an appointment make the wording of the letter clear. - For a telephone approach, identify yourself and quickly establish your need to know. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 2. MAKE A QUESTION LIST To keep yourself and your interviewee on track, make a list of questions. A question list will help you guide discursive interviewees and maintain your focus on the point. You will need questions; - to get the interview started - to keep the discussion on track - to open up different areas of discussion Start with questions that will put the interviewee at ease. You can use open-ended or closed-end questions. Do not ask two questions at once. Your last question should be, Is there anything else you want to add? Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

3. DO NOT TRUST TO MEMORY/ KEEP A RECORD You need to take notes on the interview. Shorten your notes so that you are able to write down the material you need. You will need practice to abbreviate some points. Tape recorders are the obvious solution where detail is dense and you are bombarded with data. Be sure to request permission before you begin. Even if you do tape, take notes too. If you are busy writing, the interviewee will be less aware of the tape and will tend to relax more. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

4. KEEP INTERRUPTIONS TO A MINIMUM Nod from time to time to show you are interested. Make occasional short comment that shows you are attending. Do not stop the flow of information by saying ‘Excuse me, could you stop for a moment? I just cannot keep up.’ Some interview subjects become impatient if you stop them repeatedly. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

5. IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND;REPHRASE The research you do before the interview will give you some understanding of the terminology. If it is not sufficient; - ‘Could you state that in language a layperson could understand?’ - ‘Did I understand you to say ….’ and then rephrase what the subject said. If you have made a mistake, your subject will correct the error on the sport. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

6. WHEN SUBJECT RAMBLE- RETURN TO QUESTION LIST Some talkative interviewees may use one of your questions to launch themselves into long irrelevant explanations. Avoid this by letting them ramble for a short time only. As soon as there is a natural pause , quickly murmur a polite expression like “that’s very interesting” and then immediately to the question you want answered. Try to get the subject back on track. If that does not work, at the next pause summarize what has been said in a sentence and then say, “Good. Could you also tell me about …. ? Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

7. WHEN TIME IS UP, BE SURE TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN Ask your interviewee if you can keep in touch. - I would appreciate your feedback when I have finished this, if you are willing. If possible, arrange to send subjects draft copies of the documents you are working on. If they are experts, their feedback will help guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the project. You are not obliged to change the document in the light of their comments, but it is likely that such feedback will help you write a better document. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 [2] QUESTIONNAIRE A form containing a set of questions, especially one addressed to a statistically significant number of subjects as a way of gathering information for a survey. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE The questionnaire as a whole should be attractive and easily read. It should not be so long that it makes responding burdensome task. The items should be in a logical sequence to hold the interest of the respondent. Instructions should be concise and clear, with examples if necessary. A cover letter should set the stage for responding. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE Begin with items that request background information. Open-ended items should appear toward the end of the questionnaire. The questionnaire should not begin with an open-ended item that requires extensive writing. The layout should not appear crowded. The items should be easy to respond to. Items and pages should be numbered. An item and its response options must be on the same page, and the options must fit the item. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEM CONSTRUCTION Items are to be clear. Avoid vague words, technical terms and jargon. Include only one concept in a single item. Avoid the use of leading questions. Avoid questions that demand personal information. Request only information that the respondent is able to provide. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEM CONSTRUCTION cont … Shorter items are preferred to longer items. When requesting quantitative information, ask for a specific number rather than an average. Avoid unwarranted assumptions. Avoid negative items. The options for response to an item should be mutually exclusive. Try to make the task of completing the questionnaire as easy as possible for the respondent so that it can be done efficiently and without confusion. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEM FORMAT There are two general types of items used: (1) selected-response or forced-choice items. [Closed-end Questions] - respondents select from two or more options. (2) open-ended items. [Open Ended Questions] - respondents construct a response. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEM FORMAT cont … SELECTED- RESPONSE ITEM [Closed-end Questions] - enhance consistency of response - data tabulation generally is straightforward and less time-consuming. - has the disadvantage of possibly ‘boxing-in’ the respondent on the breadth of the response. - generally requires more time and effort to construct. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEM FORMAT cont … OPEN-ENDED ITEM [Open Ended Questions] - allows the individual more freedom of response. - responses tend to be inconsistent in length and sometimes in content. - both questions and responses are open to misinterpretation. - irrelevant information may be included in the response. - more difficult to analyze. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEM FORMAT cont … - the open-ended question is more flexible and less structured than closed-end question. - A closed-end question commonly used is the Likert scale; a scale with a number of points that provide ordinal scale measurements. A set of related responses, one for each point, is provided. Response is made by checking a point or circling a letter/number representing a point on the scale. Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEM FORMAT cont … Other examples of closed-end questions are: Multiple choice questions [MCQ] True/False Ranking Tick/Cross Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011

Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011 [3] THE COVER LETTER Is an essential part of any survey involving a questionnaire. It is the mechanism for introducing individuals to the questionnaire and motivating them to respond. It should be straightforward, explaining the purpose and potential value of the survey. It should be on the letterhead of a professional organization/institution. It should be signed by someone in a professional position. ASSIGNMENT Copyright@alice/fstpi/2011