YRM-65100 Interviewing Techniques

Course

Credits 1.50

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

This course is useful for master students of all study programs who would like to know more about the interview as a scientific method of data collection. The course is especially useful for students who intend to conduct interviews for their master thesis. The aim of this course is to train students in carefully preparing and conducting a valid and reliable interview for scientific research. Students will first learn about the possibilities and constraints of the interview as a scientific method of data collection. Also, students will experience how to prepare interviews by translating research questions into a detailed interview guide.
Next, students will be practically trained in conducting a scientific interview using their own interview guide.
Students will learn to use various types of interview questions and possible ways of probing.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- identify the main characteristics of the interview as a scientific method of data collection;
- compare the interview with other methods of data-collection;
- design an interview guide by operationalizing research questions into interview topics, main questions and follow-up questions;
- conduct an interview using the interview guide;
- reflect on their own performance in conducting an interview;
- critically judge the quality of an interview conducted by somebody else.

Activities:

- theoretical knowledge about the interview as a scientific way of data generation;
- construction of an interview guide;
- pre-test of an interview guide;
- practical interviewing skills training.

Examination:

Final paper.

Literature:

Hand out articles during the workshops.