Introduction
Collecting primary data in research is a hectic task. It takes a lot of time and effort to collect this type of data. Among the different methods of collecting primary data, the dissertation interview is the most popular. You conduct an interview and conclude the research after careful analysis of the answers to the questions. It is not as easy as it sounds now. A dissertation interview is the toughest to conduct with so many complications associated. So, you need to employ the right techniques and use appropriate tools to conduct an interview. Today’s article is all about those techniques and tools you can use. There will be a description of all the interview tools and methods too. Let’s start our discussion by describing the term dissertation interview first.
A dissertation interview is a technique that many researchers use to collect primary data. It consists of a number of questions. Depending on the type of interview, it can be structured, semi-structured or unstructured. However, there are dissertation writing services UK that can also be helpful. For now, this article will not go into the details of the types of interviews. It will only talk about the techniques and tools.
What are the 5 top interview techniques?
Conducting interviews for research can be a difficult task. You have to take care of many things as you proceed. A brief description of the top 5 dissertation interview techniques is as follows;
Start with “get to know you” questions
Many interviewees feel nervous at the start of an interview. The first technique to conduct a successful interview is starting with “get to know you” questions. Such introductory and easy questions put the interviewee at ease a bit. The participants feel easy and respond to the following questions with confidence.
Pay attention
The second technique is paying attention to what the interviewee is saying. A dissertation interview is very important because all your research results depend on it. A single mistake in it can lead to wrong results. So, you need to pay attention to every single word coming out of the mouth of the interviewee. You need to pay attention to the behaviour of the candidate too. Body language sometimes also tells a lot about the person. So, you need to have a check on the body language also.
Avoid interrogation
You should avoid unnecessary interrogations in an interview. A dissertation interview only involves answers of the participants to certain questions. You have to use their answers as they provide. Any interrogation during the interview is considered a bias because it is highly likely that the interviewee will change his viewpoint when you interrogate. Thus, you should avoid interrogations and record the answers as the participants give them. It is better for your dissertation and overall research standard.
What are the tools and methods used in interviewing?
To conduct a dissertation interview, you need to employ a method. Tools support the methods, and it is how interviews go on. So, the question is, what are different interviewing tools and methods? Do not worry; this section is all about those tools and methods. First, there will be a description of the methods. The tools used in conducting an interview will follow the methods.
Methods used in interviewing
Face to face interview
The first method of conducting an interview is a face-to-face method. In this method, both interviewer and interviewee sit in front of each other. The interviewer asks questions about your educational background or some general questions, and the participant gives answers to the questions in a physical setting. The face-to-face interview method is also the most widely used method. There exists no barrier in the communication in this method, which is a good thing.
Video interview method
Next up is the video interview method. It is used when the participants are remote and cannot join physically. The video interview method is also a very commonly used method. It has enjoyed its boost in the times of COVID-19 when physical contact was not allowed worldwide. The video interview method allows you to see and hear the participants over a few inches’ screens. You can conduct the dissertation interview over that screen.
Group interview method
The group interview method is the last, and it consists of several groups. Those groups can consist of researchers or participants. It can be one interviewer interviewing a group of participants or a group of interviewers interviewing one participant. The group interview method has its own applications. These are particularly useful when you have a large audience, and you need to ask the same questions from all of them. Sometimes, it is the best practice as it saves a lot of time. On the other hand, handling such a large audience can be challenging.
Tools used in interviewing
Video calling applications
A number of applications are available in the market to conduct video interviews. They are easy to operate and offer great facilities. The researchers can also use those applications to conduct a dissertation interview. Some famous applications used to conduct video interviews are Skype, Zoom, Google Duo, and Microsoft Teams.
The video calling applications also use multiple side tools. These tools are microphones and webcams. The microphones enhance the sound quality. You can control the volume through the buttons available. The webcam is an added camera accessory that assists the interviewee in improving the video quality. It increases the picture quality and makes you crystal clear on the other screen.
Large meeting rooms
Large meeting rooms are also used to conduct a dissertation interview. The researchers mostly conduct group interviews in those rooms. They have the required space and privacy needed to conduct the interview. One thing that you need to ensure before selecting a room is acoustics. In large meeting rooms, the voice often echoes a lot.
Conclusion
A dissertation interview is very easy to conduct if you know everything mentioned above. You should avoid interrogations during the interview as it gives an impression of bias. There are also other tools and methods other than the ones mentioned above. You can also use them in your dissertation interview process.
