Interview technique for testing

Q. Interview as a technique for testing

Meaning of Interview

• Interview is a non-testing technique for collecting information.
• Interview is best known face-to-face situation/communication to get information directly from the individual.
• It is a way to establish contact with one another.
• It is a technique to know the client and to understand the client very closely.
• Interview is purposeful communication or conversation.
• It is a subjective method.

Definitions of Interview

As per J.G. Darley – “Interview is a situation in which the client can gain a better understanding of himself – his interest, skills, abilities, attitudes, etc.”

As per Bingham and Moore – “A serious conversation directed to a serious purpose, other than satisfaction in the conversation itself, is an interview.”

As per Blum and Balinsky – “The interview allows the client and the counselor to exchange ideas and attitudes through conversation. Its purpose is to lead to a solution of a client’s problem, or at least to some change in attitude or behavior.”

Purpose of interview

• To obtain information
• To give information
• Solution of a new problem
• To help in the solution of adjustment problem
• To create a rapport.
• To encourage the person to take interest in himself.
• To treat the person through psycho-analytical interviews.
• To diagnose various causes of the different problems of the person.
• To verify the facts already collected through interview.
• For interpretation of the information already gathered.

Steps in interview or how interview is conducted

• Preparation –
  1. To decide what is to be accomplished.
  2. Know the client/counselee/interviewee
  3. To know his background and his abilities and who he is.
  4. Take appointments.
  5. Provision for privacy.
  6. During interview what should be noted.
  7. Know your own personality, be objective.
  8. Control emotions and emotionally disturbed attitudes.
• Process –
  1. Establish rapport.
  2. Help the client/interviewee feel easy and comfortable and ready to talk.
  3. At the close end of the interview, watch for additional information – Catch the change in expressions which may drop after the interview has ended.
• Interpretation –

There should be interpretation of the information collected during the interview. It is a solution to the problem.

• Developing insights and putting them to work.
• Recording –

A diary can be maintained, video shooting can be done, without the knowledge of the client, photo camera, and other technologies can be used.

• Follow up –

After solution of problem, to see whether the client is following a correct path. It is essential for the improvement of the client. Follow up process is a continuous process.

Precautions/ Preventions to be taken

• Ideal physical condition must exist.
• Perfect rapport should be established.
• Come to the point of the interview as quickly as possible.
• Be gentle, natural, and a good listener.
• Respect the personality of the interviewee.
• Close the interview on a constructive note.
• Easy language should be used during the process of interview.
• Objectives of the interview should be decided before starting a successful interview.
• It should neither be too lengthy nor too short.
• There should be no favoritism.
• Show sympathy to the client.
• Interviewer should have full control on the interview.

Advantages of Interview

• It is a most flexible way of understanding the client.
• Multiple objectives can be achieved.
• It allows us to study the past events too.
• It develops insight in the clients.
• It concentrates more on the problems.
• It helps in collecting such data that supplements the objectives or data later collected by other methods.
• It creates friendly environment.
• It is easy to conduct.

Limitations of Interview

• It is subjective in nature.
• Difficult to know about a person in a short time.
• It is time consuming.
• It is sometimes difficult to interpret as a client may not unfold all his feelings.
• Client may be confused and unable to give specific answers.
• Social background may also affect the interview.
• Validity and reliability depends on the person who is conducting the interview.

Uses of Interview

• To get information about difficulties of students.
• To get wide information regarding interests, needs, adjustments, attitudes, aptitudes etc of the student.
• To suggest remedial work.
• To build rapport with student