Assignment 2 Grading Criteria Maximum Points

Assignment 2 Grading Criteriamaximum Points

Identify and summarize the purpose of the interview. List the topics to be covered during the interview. Explain how to structure the interview and the reasoning behind the structuring. Compose five open-ended and five closed-ended questions to obtain information during the interview. Develop hypothetical examples for at least five techniques (paraphrasing, summaries, or reflections) that could be used during the interview. Identify opening techniques to build rapport with the volunteer/client. Identify types/examples of questions to avoid during the interview. Explain how one’s own beliefs could affect the interview and analyze how beliefs are influenced by one’s own cultural, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. Identify steps to limit the impact of one’s own beliefs on the interview. Consider the style (tone, audience, and word choice), organization (introduction, transitions, and conclusion), usage and mechanics (grammar, spelling, and sentence structure), and APA elements (in-text citations and references, paraphrasing, quotations, and stylistic elements). Ensure the total work reflects the criteria outlined with clarity and depth for a comprehensive interview plan.

Paper For Above instruction

The successful execution of an interview hinges on thorough preparation, including understanding its purpose, developing pertinent topics, structuring the interaction effectively, and being mindful of personal biases and cultural influences. This paper delineates these elements in detail, providing a comprehensive framework for conducting a meaningful and ethical interview.

Purpose of the Interview

The primary purpose of the interview is to gather in-depth information from the interviewee to inform research, assess needs, or understand perspectives related to a specific topic. For example, if the interview is to understand client needs in a social services context, the aim is to elicit subjective experiences, preferences, and potential barriers faced by the client. The purpose defines the scope, guides question development, and shapes rapport-building strategies to ensure authentic responses.

Topics to Cover

The interviewer must identify relevant topics aligned with the interview’s purpose. For instance, if interviewing a volunteer about their experience, topics may include motivations for volunteering, perceived impact, challenges faced, support systems, and suggestions for program improvements. These topics create a structured flow and ensure comprehensive coverage of key areas.

Structuring the Interview

Effective structuring involves an introduction, body, and closing. The opening segment should include rapport-building techniques such as small talk or expressing appreciation to ease anxiety. The body involves the main questions, starting with less sensitive topics and moving towards more complex issues. Using sequencing aids in logical flow. The conclusion should summarize key points, express gratitude, and clarify follow-up steps.

The reasoning behind this structure is to foster trust, progressively deepen the conversation, and leave the interviewee with a positive impression, encouraging honest sharing.

Question Development

Developing questions requires balancing open-ended and closed-ended formats. Open-ended questions, such as “Can you describe your experience with...?”, encourage detailed responses and insights. Closed-ended questions, like “Did you find the resource helpful? Yes or No,” are useful for obtaining specific data. Strategies include clear and neutral wording, avoiding leading or loaded questions, ensuring the questions are relevant to the topics, and sequencing them to facilitate a natural conversation flow.

Examples include:

• Open-ended: “How did you feel about the services provided?”
• Open-ended: “What challenges have you faced in accessing resources?”
• Closed-ended: “Have you received support from the program?”
• Closed-ended: “Would you recommend the program to others?”
• Open-ended: “What improvements would you suggest?”

Interview Techniques Examples

Techniques such as paraphrasing, summarization, reflection, clarification, and active listening enhance understanding during the interview. Examples include:

• Paraphrasing: “So, what you're saying is that the process was confusing at first?”
• Summarizing: “Let me summarize what you've shared so far to ensure I understand...”
• Reflection: “It sounds like you're feeling frustrated about the lack of support.”
• Clarification: “Could you elaborate on what you meant when you said...?”
• Active listening: Nodding and verbal acknowledgments like “I see,” or “That makes sense,” to demonstrate engagement.

Building Rapport with Opening Techniques

Establishing rapport is vital for a candid interview. Techniques include expressing genuine interest, using open body language, smiling, maintaining eye contact, and creating a comfortable environment. Small talk about neutral topics or mutual interests can ease tension. Introducing oneself clearly, explaining the interview’s purpose, and assuring confidentiality foster trust.

Questions to Avoid

Questions must be respectful and non-intrusive. Types to avoid include leading questions, double-barreled questions, overly personal or invasive questions, and questions that assume guilt or fault. For example, avoid questions like, “You didn’t face any challenges, did you?” or “Why did you fail to access services?” These can bias responses or cause discomfort.

Impact of Personal Beliefs

Personal beliefs, biases, and cultural perspectives inevitably influence the interview process. For instance, a interviewer’s gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation may shape how questions are framed or interpreted. Unconscious biases can lead to misinterpretation, prompting social desirability bias, or discomfort for the interviewee. Acknowledging this influence is essential to maintaining objectivity and obtaining authentic data.

Limiting Cultural and Personal Biases

Strategies to minimize bias include reflexivity practices like self-awareness of biases, cultural competency training, and employing standardized protocols. Use of neutral language, avoiding assumptions, and seeking clarification when responses seem biased or stereotypical help ensure objectivity. It is also crucial to remain open-minded, listen actively, and refrain from passing judgment.

Conclusion

In sum, conducting an effective interview requires meticulous planning encompassing clarity of purpose, structured flow, appropriate questioning, rapport-building, cultural awareness, and bias mitigation. By employing these strategies, interviewers can facilitate meaningful exchanges that yield valid, reliable, and insightful information beneficial across various disciplines.

References

• Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). InterViews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing. SAGE Publications.
• Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Seidman, I. (2013). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. Teachers College Press.
• Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publications.
• Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data. Sage Publications.
• Fontana, A., & Frey, J. H. (2000). The interview: From structured questions to negotiated text. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed., pp. 645–672). SAGE Publications.
• King, N. (2004). Using templates in the thematic analysis of text. In C. Cassell & G. Symon (Eds.), Essential guides to qualitative methods in organizational research (pp. 256–270). SAGE Publications.
• Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Becker, H. S. (1998). Tricks of the trade: How to think about your research differently. University of Chicago Press.
• Guest, G., MacQueen, K. M., & Namey, E. E. (2012). Applied thematic analysis. SAGE Publications.