Interviewing as social interaction

This paper, based on the premise that the interview is a unique form of social interaction and, as such, deserves greater attention, addresses the interactional dynamics of the interview by weaving experience into analysis, as well as reviewing relevant literature. Four types of interviewing situations are distinguished, with the focus of discussion on two of these types (survey-interviewing and professional-interviewing), specifically in regard to varying interactional effects. The author concentrates on the focused or indepth interview, organizing the discussion around the sequence of events which contribute to the construction of the focused interviewing situation, drawing examples from her interviewing experience. The aim is to emphasize the differences between the indepth and other types of interviewing methods. I would like to thank Harriet Gross and Muriel Beadle for editorial advice.