Abstract
If there is one universally applied technique to be found in behavioural research it is ‘interviewing’. If there is one technique basic to all professional practice it is the interaction between people that is called ‘interviewing’. It is the nature of this interaction between people which is the concern of this chapter. It is to be hoped that what is said can be applied not simply to ‘the interview’ in ‘an interview situation’ but to all purposive contacts between individuals; the critical feature, it is claimed, being the purposive nature of the encounter. The participants bring hopes, fears, expectations, misconceptions and many other cognitions to the situation, most times in the hope that their wishes will be met, fears reduced and so on. Customarily this view is found in the characterization of an interview as a ‘conversation with a purpose’. So it is, but ALL those participating in an interview have their purposes and not simply, for example, the interviewer. In the complex transactions of getting and giving information we observe effort aimed at achieving purposes. Thus the psychologist testing a client by means of, say, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale is conducting an interview as defined.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Argyle, M. (1973) Social Interaction. London: Tavistock.
Argyle, M. (1975) Bodily Communication. London: Methuen.
Atkinson, J. (1971) A Handbook for Interviewers (2nd edn). London: HMSO.
Bartlett, F.C. (1932) Remembering. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cook, M. (1979) Perceiving Others. London: Methuen.
One, M.T. (1962) On the social psychology of the psychology experiment. American Psychologist, 17, 776–783.
Rodger, A. (1974) Seven Point Plan. London: NFER.
Rosenthal, R. and Rosnow, R.L. (1969) The volunteer subject. In R. Rosenthal and R.L. Rosnow (eds), Artifact in Behavioral Research. New York: Academic Press.
Annotated reading
Anstey, E. (1976) An Introduction to Selection Interviewing, London: HMSO.
Bingham, W.V. and Moore, B.V. (1959) How to Interview (4th edn). New York: Harper & Row.
Cannell, C.F. and Kahn, R.L. (1968) Interviewing. In G. Lindzey and E. Aronson (eds), Handbook of Social Psychology, Volume 2 (2nd edn). London: Addison-Wesley.
Cross, C.P. (1974) Interviewing and Communication in Social Work. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Sidney, E. and Brown, M. (1973) The Skills of Interviewing. London: Tavistock.
Sidney, E.? Brown, M. and Argyle, M. (1973) Skills with People. London: Hutchinson.
Ungerson, B. (ed.) (1975) Recruitment Handbook (2nd edn). London: Gower Press.
Copyright information
© 1986 The British Psychological Society
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wicks, R.P. (1986). Interviewing. In: Psychology for Social Workers. Psychology for Professional Groups. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-18151-3_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-18151-3_19
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-41925-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-18151-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)