Two or more people meet face to face, or via video, so that one can gather information from the other. An interview is that structured conversation. In hiring, the interviewer assesses a candidate’s skills, experience, and fit. In journalism, the interviewer seeks facts, quotes, and insight. In research, interviews provide qualitative data that surveys cannot capture as richly.

Effective interviews require preparation: clear objectives, thoughtful questions, and an environment that encourages honest responses. Open-ended questions usually yield more useful information than yes/no questions. Listening carefully and following up on unexpected answers often produces the most valuable material.

Interviews are subject to bias—both the interviewer’s preconceptions and the interviewee’s desire to present a favorable image. Structured formats and multiple interviewers can reduce some of that bias. Whether the goal is selection, storytelling, or understanding, the interview remains one of the most direct ways to obtain information from another person.