Resources > Resource Packs > Using Interviews in a Research Project

The interview is an important data gathering technique involving verbal communication between the researcher and the subject. Interviews are commonly used in survey designs and in exploratory and descriptive studies. There are a range of approaches to interviewing, from completely unstructured (subject is allowed to talk freely) to highly structured (subject responses limited to answering direct questions). The quality of the data collected in an interview will depend on both the interview design and on the skill of the interviewer.

This resource pack looks at the different types of interview, and the skills needed by an interviewer such as reflective questioning, summarising and 'controlling the interview'. Because of the personal nature of interviewing the pack also examines the scope for introducing error and bias which can affect all the following stages of the interviewing process. Finally there is a section on conducting the interview and on handling the interview data

This resource packs suggests further reading and resources as well as supplying a glossary of terms.


Download a pdf version of Using Interviews in a Research Project (updated 2006)

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