Interview protocol

Definition

An interview protocol is a structured guide used during interviews to ensure that all necessary topics are covered and that the data collected is consistent across different participants. It typically includes a set of predetermined questions, guidelines for follow-up inquiries, and instructions for the interviewer on how to engage with respondents. This approach is crucial for maintaining the integrity of data collection and helps in obtaining reliable information.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. An interview protocol helps in maintaining consistency during interviews, allowing for better comparison of responses across different participants.
2. The protocol can be adjusted to fit various research objectives, whether qualitative or quantitative, depending on the nature of the study.
3. In a face-to-face interview setting, the interviewer’s ability to adapt questions based on participant responses while following the protocol is key to gathering rich data.
4. A well-designed interview protocol can reduce bias by standardizing questions and minimizing the influence of the interviewer’s personal opinions.
5. Training interviewers on the protocol is essential for effective implementation, ensuring they understand both the content and how to facilitate a comfortable environment for respondents.

Review Questions

• How does an interview protocol contribute to the consistency and reliability of data collected in interviews?
  • An interview protocol ensures that all participants are asked the same set of questions in a similar manner, which helps in collecting consistent data. This uniformity allows researchers to compare responses effectively and reduces variability caused by differing interviewer styles. By standardizing the approach, researchers can achieve more reliable outcomes that can be generalized across different respondents.
• Discuss how an interview protocol might be adapted for different research objectives while still maintaining data integrity.
  • An interview protocol can be tailored for various research objectives by modifying question wording, changing the order of questions, or including different types of follow-up prompts. For qualitative studies, open-ended questions may be emphasized to allow deeper exploration of topics. In contrast, quantitative research might focus on closed-ended questions for statistical analysis. Regardless of these adaptations, it’s crucial that core elements remain intact to uphold the integrity and reliability of the data collected.
• Evaluate the impact of interviewer training on the implementation of an interview protocol and its effect on research outcomes.
  • Interviewer training plays a vital role in implementing an interview protocol effectively. Well-trained interviewers are more likely to follow the protocol closely, ask questions clearly, and engage participants in a way that encourages honest and comprehensive responses. This leads to higher quality data and minimizes bias. The impact of such training ultimately affects research outcomes by ensuring that collected data is valid and reflective of true participant perspectives.

Related terms

Qualitative Research: A research method that focuses on understanding human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior, often using unstructured or semi-structured techniques like interviews.

Sampling: The process of selecting a subset of individuals from a population to estimate characteristics of the whole group.

Data Validity: The degree to which the results of an assessment measure what they are intended to measure, ensuring that the data collected accurately reflects the subject being studied.