An interview is a conversation where a researcher asks questions of a subject. It is one of the most common methods in social research. Unlike a survey, which uses fixed questions and large samples, an interview allows follow-up, clarification, and depth. The researcher can probe feelings, motives, and meanings.

Interviews come in types. Structured interviews use a fixed script. Unstructured interviews are open conversations. Semi-structured interviews fall in between, with a guide but room to explore. Good interviewers build rapport, listen more than they talk, and avoid leading questions.

Strengths and limits

• Rich, detailed data
• Flexibility to follow unexpected leads
• Access to subjective experience
• Time-consuming and hard to generalize
• Subject to interviewer bias and social desirability

Ethics matter. Researchers must obtain informed consent, protect confidentiality, and avoid harm. Interviews are not just data collection. They are social encounters with power dynamics and emotional weight.