Chapter 4
Structuring the Interview
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Copyright © 2011 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-2
Chapter Summary
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•
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The Body of the Interview
Opening the Interview
Closing the Interview
Summary
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The Body of the Interview
• Interview Guide
▫ An interview guide is a carefully structured outline
of topics and subtopics to be covered during an
interview.
▫ A guide ensures the consideration of all important
topics and subtopics.
▫ It assists in recording answers and recall at a later
date.
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The Body of the Interview
• Interview Guide
▫ Outline Sequences
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Topical
Time
Space
Cause-to-effect
Problem-solution
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The Body of the Interview
• Interview Schedules
▫ A nonscheduled interview is merely an interview
guide with no questions prepared in advance.
▫ Unintentional interviewer bias is most likely to
occur in a nonscheduled interview.
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The Body of the Interview
• Interview Schedules
▫ A moderately scheduled interview contains all
major questions with possible probing questions
under each.
▫ A moderately scheduled interview lessens the
dangers of instant question creation.
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The Body of the Interview
• Interview Schedules
▫ A highly scheduled interview includes all
questions and the exact wording to be used with
each interviewee.
▫ Highly scheduled interviews sacrifice flexibility
and adaptability for control.
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The Body of the Interview
• Interview Schedules
▫ A highly scheduled standardized interview is the
most thoroughly planned and structured.
▫ All question and answer options are stated in
identical words to each interviewee.
▫ Highly scheduled standardized interviews are
necessary for precision, replicability, and
reliability.
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The Body of the Interview
• Interview Schedules
▫ Consider a strategic combination of schedule
types.
▫ Combined schedules enable interviewers to satisfy
multiple needs.
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The Body of the Interview
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The Body of the Interview
• Question Sequences
▫ Tunnel Sequence: A series of similar questions,
either open or closed. It works well with informal
and simple interviews.
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The Body of the Interview
• Question Sequences
 Funnel Sequence: Begins with a broad, open-ended
question and proceeds with evermore restricted
questions. It works well with motivated interviewees.
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The Body of the Interview
• Question Sequences
▫ Inverted Funnel Sequence: Begins with a closed
question and proceeds toward open questions. It provides a
warm-up time for those reluctant to talk.
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The Body of the Interview
• Question Sequences
▫ Combination Sequences: begins with open
questions, proceeds to one or more closed
questions, and ends with open questions
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The Body of the Interview
• Question Sequences
▫ The Diamond Sequence: enables interviewers to
begin with closed questions, proceed to open
questions, and end with closed questions
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The Body of the Interview
• Question Sequences
• Quintamensional Design Sequence: Five-step approach that
proceeds from an interviewee’s awareness of the issue to attitudes
uninfluenced by the interviewer, specific attitudes, reasons for
these attitudes, and intensity of attitude. It is effective at assessing
attitudes and beliefs and is often used in opinion polls.
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Opening the Interview
• It takes two parties to launch an interview
successfully.
• Two-Step Process
▫ Establish rapport
▫ Orient the other party
• Rapport and orientation are often intermixed
and reduce relational uncertainty.
• Verbal opening techniques
• Nonverbal opening techniques
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Closing the Interview
• Take your time and be tactful in what you say
and do in the closing.
• The closing often signals the continuation of a
relationship.
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Closing the Interview
• Guidelines for Closings
▫ Be sincere and honest.
▫ Do not rush the closing.
▫ Do not introduce new topics or ideas during the
closing.
▫ Leave the door open for future contacts.
▫ Avoid false closings when the interview is not
really over.
▫ Avoid failed departures when you soon meet up
again with the party after having concluded the
interview.
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Closing the Interview
• Closing Techniques
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Offer to answer questions.
Use clearinghouse questions.
Declare completion of the intended purpose.
Make personal inquiries.
Make professional inquiries.
Signal that time is up.
Continued...
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Closing the Interview
• Closing Techniques
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▫
▫
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Explain the reason for the closing
Express appreciation or satisfaction
Arrange for the next meeting
Summarize the interview
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Closing the Interview
• Nonverbal Closing Actions
▫ Plan the closing just as you do the opening and
body of the interview.
▫ Combine effective verbal and nonverbal
techniques into effective closings.
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Closing the Interview
• Nonverbal Closing Actions
▫ Understand what words and actions are saying to
the other party
▫ Decide which closing techniques are most suitable
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Summary
• All three parts of each interview—opening, body,
and closing—are vital to its success.
• The opening influences how both parties
perceive themselves and one another.
• The body must be carefully structured with an
appropriate sequence that guides the questions.
• The closing not only brings the interview to an
end, but it may summarize information.