Types of Interview

The various types of interview patterns are discussed

as below:

On the basis of the manner in which they are conducted,

interviews are generally of the following types:

1) Structured Interview

It is also known as controlled, guided or directive

interview. Under this a predetermined questionnaire

is used. The interviewer is asked to get the answers to

those questions only. He/she generally does not add

anything from his own side. The language too is not

changed. He/she can only interpret the statement

wherever necessary.

2) Unstructured Interview

It is also known as uncontrolled or non-directive

interview. No direct or predetermined questions are

used in this type of interview. The interviewers may

develop questions as the interview proceeds. It is

generally held in the form of free discussions. The basic

objective of this method is to get the client express

himself/herself freely.

3) Mixed or Depth Interview

It is a combination of structured and unstructured types

of interviews. Under this method the client is free to

express himself/herself but at the same time structured

questions provide a base of information to the

interviewers to compare the clients. The method of

conducting an interview will be influential to a

considerable extent by the purpose of the interview.

On the basis of the purposes they serve, interviews are

of following types, some are primarily directed towards

obtaining information, some primarily towards giving

help. Most, however involve a combination of the two.

1) Information gathering or social study interview

Its purpose is to obtain a focused account of the

individual in terms of social functioning. The information

enables the worker to understand the client in relation

to the social problem situation. Knowledge about the

client and his situation is a necessary prerequisite to

an understanding of the client in his situation. And

understanding is a necessary prerequisite for effectively

intervening to bring about change.

2) Diagnostic / Decision-making Interviews

This type of interview is geared towards the appraisal

and determination of :

a) what the problem or the trouble is.

b) what factors seem to be contributing to it.

c) what can be changed and modified.

As the caseworker listens to each interview he/she

constantly tries to answer the above three questions

and what he/she does in the immediate interview will

be, to a large extent, dependant on this understanding.

For example, in the case of a delinquent juvenile, the

caseworker has to direct the interview in answering

the following questions:

_ how the client sees himself/herself as a

delinquent.

_ what role his/her parents, peers, neighbourhood

have played in contributing to the problem.

_ The teacher’s attitude, school curriculum and

environment.

_ Other contributing factors such as current

provocations, historical factors, personality

makeup etc.

_ The anxiety, anger and other such feelings

experienced by the clients.

_ What needs to be changed in the client and/or

his/her environment.

Diagnostic interview is multifaceted and is an orderly

attempt to understand the client-situation

configuration.

3) Therapeutic Interview

The purpose of this interview is to effect change in the

client, in his/her social situation, or in both. The goal

is more effective social functioning on the part of the

client as a consequence of the therapeutic changes.

Such interviews involve the use of special remedial

measure to effect changes in the feelings, attitudes

and behaviour on the part of the client in response to

the social situation.

 _ Professional failure, self-control in case of the

client’s hostility, rejection and abusive behaviour

_ Coming unprepared for the interview