Interviews have become commonplace in many settings. Even if you have not personally conducted an interview, you probably have been interviewed. If you were interviewed for a job, the employer might have wanted to get a sense of how you would fit in with the organization. Or maybe you were interviewed as part of the college or graduate school application process, where you could share more details about your experiences and preparation. You might have even conducted interviews yourself for a journalism assignment or newsletter.
But how are interviews utilized in research? How are research interviews different from the kinds we experience in other parts of our lives? What do you need to know about using interviews as a method for conducting research?
The following sections will help you discover the answers to these questions—and more. Depending on your needs, you can move through this module in order of topics or jump to a particular section of interest.
