Introduction
The field of research has various techniques for data collection and presenting evidence of the research findings. Each investigation must have a practical approach to gathering information appropriate for the topic under investigation, characteristics of respondents and the target audience. In qualitative research, the techniques range from observation, interviews, questionnaires and surveys. This paper focuses on interviews as a method of collecting data, the different ways a respondent may answer the questions and how the answers can affect data analysis and results of an investigation.
Standard research usually begins with a topic for investigation and objectives determining the research methodology. Collecting data using interviews involves asking verbal questions and receiving verbal answers. The interview may be face-to-face or over voice call and video, depending on the most suitable mode of communication and reliability. In this interview, the subject under investigation entailed a look at the high cost of living. The two respondents included an economist and health nutritionist since the issue affects the economic sector and societal well-being, such as obtaining food and healthy living. The respondent will be referred to as respondents A and B, respectively. The interview was conducted using standardized open-ended questions due to the qualitative nature of the research.
The Respondents Reactions
Both respondents were willing to participate and share information to their knowledge. The respondents answered after careful thought of the question. Their unhurried manner of answering could be considered as taking the matter seriously and giving a well thought and accurate answer giving credibility to the information. Both respondents had excellent cognitive skills and could interpret the questions without additional explanation or clarification. Therefore, none of the questions was altered or rephrased to give a different meaning that could interfere with the analysis and findings.
Respondent A’s answers were substantive, and the respondent was enthusiastic to talk about the economic crisis leading to in-depth information. However, the respondent took a long time answering a question which consumed time for responding to the other questions, mainly the last three. Thus, it will be challenging to analyze the information and obtain accurate findings since some information is inadequate. On the other hand, respondent B’s answers were straight to the point with minimal in-depth explanations. Some of the respondent’s answers were non-substantive, where the respondent used words such as ‘I am not sure’ and ‘I guess’. The non-substantive answer can lead to uncertainty during data analysis resulting in unreliable and inaccurate findings. Despite the challenges, all information related to the topic under investigation makes it easier to generalize results.
The two respondents’ attitudes towards answering personal questions were different. Respondent B was more open to answering sensitive questions than respondent A. Regarding the personal question on experience facing financial strain, respondent A answered the question more quickly and briefly than respondent B. The interviewer could not probe further on the question since it was personal and sensitive, making it inappropriate to insist on a detailed answer. Respondent A offered voluntary comments and observations, broadening the research scope. Each interview had a few follow-up questions where the questions differed according to the respondents’ area of expertise. Respondent A’s follow-up questions delved deeper into economic issues, while respondent B’s questions involved health and lifestyle issues.
Professional Interview: Saving Soil to Grow better Crops by Trevor Noah on ‘The Daily Show’
Trevor Noah is a professional host and commentator on ‘The Daily Show’ television channel. In this video, Noah interviews Jagadish Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru, on the importance of soil conservation for better agricultural production in the future. Unlike the standardized open-ended interview questions in the above investigation, Noah’s interview entails unstructured questions where the interviewer asks random and open-ended questions. The interview is more conversational than questions answer, with follow-up questions leading to thoroughly exploiting the topic. The respondent did not ask for clarification and answered each question precisely and in detail. Although the respondent has more time to answer questions in the video since the interview is not structured to answer a specific number of questions, the substantive answers complement respondents A and B’s responses despite the limited time.
Sadhguru gives precise answers, which make the data dependable and credible for use in other research areas. The data can be analyzed with minimum errors given the certainty of the responses, such as percentages and time durations. Despite the professionalism and seriousness of the subject under discussion, the interview has a friendly tone. Both interviewer and respondent crack humorous jokes, which eases the professional atmosphere. However, the friendliness could affect the analysis and the audience’s reaction to the topic as it would seem less severe. The tone differs from the investigation interview above, where everything was professional, making the subject a serious societal issue.
Conclusion
A respondent’s reaction to interview questions is an important matter to consider in the field of research because it affects data analysis and findings. The answers determine the reliability of the data, credibility and an individual’s attitude towards the topic. Vague answers result in unreliable data, while too much information may lead to uncertainty of the most appropriate answer during analysis. Respondents with better cognitive skills are more likely to give accurate answers since the interviewer does not have to clarify and give additional explanations that could lead to a researcher’s desired answer. Although humor is good for the mind and soul, a professional tone gives a response more credibility and seriousness than friendly and hostile tones and attitudes.
Reference
Noah, T. (2022). Saving Soil to Grow Better Crops. Youtube.com. The Daily Show. Web.