Frequently Asked Questions about User Validation: Interviews

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1. Why are interview methods generally considered inadequate for validation ?(a1)

2. What is the difference between a structured interview and a survey questionnaire ? (a2)

1. Why are interview methods generally considered inadequate for validation ?

   Interview methods span a large continuum, from those which are simply survey questionnaires administered verbally, to free-form discussions on an agreed set of topics. The best use of an interview in validation work is when an interview protocol has been established, and trained interviewers seek to place the interviewees at pre-defined positions on the questions of the protocol without however putting words into the mouths of the interviewees or attempting to interpret the interviewees positions. This needless to say is difficult and exacting work for which training is required. The danger of using interviews in validation work is that:

   1. an 'audit trail' is rarely left which would enable a reviewer to follow the analysis;
   2. there is a lot of scope for conscious and unconscious biasing of interviewee;
   3. it is difficult to set standards and to say whether the criteria have been attained when relying only on interview data.

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2. What is the difference between a structured interview and a survey questionnaire ?

   The main difference between a structured interview and a survey questionnaire is that the survey questionnaire is designed to be filled out by the respondent alone, and therefore requires more careful handling. In an interview, the interviewer can always add information if requested to explain a question the respondent is having problems answering.