Interview Guide: Proper Preparation for Successful Interviews

An interview guide is a key tool in qualitative research and HR that systematically outlines the course of an interview. It includes the questions and topics to be covered during the conversation and serves as a guide for interviewers. A well-structured guide helps capture relevant information effectively and ensures comparability between multiple interviews.

Importance of an Interview Guide

A carefully designed interview guide offers several benefits:

• Structuring: It ensures a clear flow of the interview and guarantees that all important topics are addressed.

• Flexibility: Despite the predefined structure, it allows for spontaneous follow-up questions and adjustments during the conversation.

• Comparability: A consistent guide makes it easier to analyze and evaluate results from multiple interviews.

How to Create an Interview Guide

Defining the Research Objective: Clarify what information the interview is intended to gather.

• Choosing the Interview Type: Decide between structured, semi-structured, or unstructured interviews, depending on the research goal and context.

• Formulating Questions: Develop open and closed questions that address the research objective.

• Setting the Order: Arrange questions in a logical sequence, starting with simple introductory questions and moving to more complex topics.

• Piloting: Test the guide in a trial interview to identify and address potential ambiguities or weaknesses.

Structure of an Interview Guide

1. Introduction: Introduction of the interviewer(s), explanation of the interview’s purpose, confidentiality notes, and obtaining consent for recording.

2. Introductory Questions: Simple, easy-to-answer questions to break the ice and initiate conversation flow.

3. Main Part: Thematically structured questions addressing the core research interest. Both open and closed questions can be used.

4. Conclusion: Summarizing key points, providing interviewees the opportunity for additional remarks, and thanking them for their participation.

Tips for Conducting an Interview

• Active Listening: Be attentive and respond flexibly to answers when necessary.

• Maintaining Neutrality: Avoid making judgmental comments to ensure objectivity.

• Taking Notes: Record important points to be able to follow up precisely later.

Conclusion

A well-designed interview guide is essential for conducting successful qualitative interviews. It provides structure, ensures all relevant topics are covered, and allows for efficient analysis of the collected data.