Innovative curriculum designing for work - based learning

(Source: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-tips-on-)

The trainer should have knowledge of the different types of interviews and questions to be able to select the best model that meets within the goals and needs of the interview.

What types of interviews can be considered depending on the way of its implementation?

• Individual Interview
• Group Interview (interviewing several people at the same time, has the advantage of saving time, watch interactions and get different perspectives from the candidates)
• Panel Interview (when a person is interviewed by several people at the same time)

What ways can be considered to conduct interviews?

• Personal
• Non personal (E.g. Phone, Video Conference)

Question Types

• Open Questions
  • Exploratory, free time for reflection and response, eg: "What ...?", "Where ...?", "When ...?" How To ... ?"" Why ... ?" which evokes a description

• Close Questions
  • Promotes precise and short answers, limited in content and thought development, eg alternative answers of "Yes / No", between presented options answers (Do you prefer X or Y?), or with only a valid response ("What is your nationality?")

• Provocative questions
  • They can be open or closed questions and they intend to destabilize or confront; useful when an interviewee seems to avoid answering a question; it allows to evoke emotions or bring out personality traits; E.g.: "If I ask you what opinion has your tutor about your behaviour in a specific situation, what do you think he'll say?". Issues such as these can however interfere with communication and the relationship and should therefore only be used for a short time and only when the interviewer has the guarantee of being able to control the situation. Avoid this type of issues at the beginning of the interviews, and rather do them when a trust is already established. It is not intended to intimidate or injure, but rather grab the respondent with an honest answer.

The type of interview should be selected in accordance with the existing objectives and conditions:

• Open / unstructured interview
  • Interviewer proposes a theme
  • Develops issues in the flow of a conversation
  • The issues arise in the immediate context
  • The interview guide/script with guidelines in accordance with the objectives
  • Interviewer promotes, encourages and guides the subject's participation
  • Advantages:
    • Allows the interviewer to have a good perception of personality differences and behavior of candidates, once the interview is less oriented and allows people to react more naturally
    • The questions can be individualized by candidate
  • Disadvantages:
    • Requires a long time for systematic information (longer interviews)
    • The result of these interviews depend heavily on the capabilities and experience of the interviewer
    • Requires more time for the treatment of the collected information

• Semi-structured interview
  • The previously prepared script serves as guidance for the development of the interview
  • This type of interviews allows that different respondents answer to the same questions
  • Does not require a strict order on the issues
  • The interview can be adapted to the interviewee during its development
  • High level of flexibility in exploring issues
  • Advantages:
    • Time available optimization
    • Quick processing of data
    • More suited for interviews in groups
    • Allows to select themes for exploration
    • Allows to introduce new issues
  • Disadvantages:
    • Requires a good preparation of the interviewer

• Structured Interview / standard
  • Minimizes the variation of the questions between respondents
  • Closed questions are used in order to get the same data from all respondents
  • Uniformity in the type of information collected
  • Questions are submitted as written in the Script
  • The response categories are predefined
  • The evaluation and analysis of the responses during the interview is reduced; you just have to follow the script
  • Advantages
    • Save time
    • Facilitates in data analysis
    • Allows the study of replication by different interviewers
  • Disadvantages
    • Low flexibility and spontaneity
    • Reduces or denies the possibility of further issues that were not planned

Circumstances and personal factors are not taken into account.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 9: INTERVIEW TYPES

Worksheet: Interview Types