4/17/20081Psy 427Cal State NorthridgeAndrew Ainsworth PhD Many fields rely on interviews to gather information and/or for decision making purposes when people are involved Psychology (obviously), but not just clinical Couseling Forensic Industrial/Organizational Business Research Law ContractorsPsy 427 - Cal State Northridge2 An interview is like a test Gather Data Make Predictions Can ascertain reliability Can ascertain validity Can be administered to groups or individuals Can be structured or unstructured3Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge4/17/20082 An interview is like a test Some interviews can be stand-alone tests themselves Employment interviews Psychiatric Interviews Medical histories Often used in conjunction or to augment other tests Thematic Apperception Test has an interview 4Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Establish rapport Gather information efficiently Form clinical impressions Supplement testing information5Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Because interviews involve interactions between people it’s natural that both of the participants are affected In criminal investigations (Akehurst and Vrij, 1999) if the suspect become more “active” this leads to the interrogator to become more “active” and vice versa This can inadvertently lead to the suspect to be viewed more suspiciously6Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge4/17/20083 Other studies (e.g. Heller, 1971) have shown that when actors responded with anger to highly trained interviewers, the interviewers reported becoming angry themselves This process of mutual influence during an interview is known as social facilitation7Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Social Facilitation We tend to act like those around us. If the interviewer is tense, the interviewee will be tense; if the interviewer is relaxed, the interviewee will be relaxed. Works during interviews, as well as during crisis interventions or anytime people interact for extended periods of time Also seen in social and developmental psychology8Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Social Facilitation Since social facilitation has a strong behavioral influence on both the interviewer and the interviewee it is easy to see that it can lead to bias in an interview A “good” interviewer will be aware of the power of social facilitation and remain calm and in control regardless of the interviewee’s behavior9Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge4/17/20084 Proper attitude interpersonal influence  the degree to which one person can influence another is related to interpersonal attraction the degree to which people share a feeling of understanding, mutual respect, similarity10Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Most important factor in patients’ evaluation of interviews: their perceptions of the interviewer’s feelings. When the interviewer was seen as cold, defensive, uninterested, uninvolved, aloof, or bored, interviews were seen as “poor.” When the interviewer was seen as warm, open, concerned, involved, committed, and interested, these interviews were seen as “good.”11Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Responses to avoid in an interview Those that increase stress Judgmental statements  Puts interviewees on guard  communicates approval or disapproval of the interviewee Evaluative statements  also communicates approval or disapproval  may inhibit self-disclosure if interviewee feels that their statements are being evaluated12Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge4/17/20085 Responses to avoid in an interview Probing statements should be used carefully Avoid: “Why…” questions Causes defensive responses  May require respondent to reveal more than they comfortable revealing  At times, probing statements are necessary but should be made with care. In general, “how’s” are better than “why’s”13Psy 427 - Cal State NorthridgePsy 427 - Cal State Northridge14Poor BetterWhy did you yell at him?1.Tell me more about what happened.2.How did you happen to yell at him?3.What led up to this situation?Why did you say that?1.Can you tell me what you mean?2.I'm not sure I understand.3.How did you happen to say that?Why can't you sleep?1.Tell me more about you sleeping problem.2.Can you identify what keeps you from sleeping?3.How is it that you are unable to sleep? Responses to avoid in an interview Hostile statements unnecessary if trying to gather information may be used in a “stress interview” but not to be done without experience in this area False reassurance Do not give a person reassurance when it is possibly unwaranted “Everything will be alright.”15Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge4/17/20086 Effective Responses Open-ended questions those that cannot be answered specifically are better than closed-ended questions  those that can be answered specifically Open-ended questions promote the flow of information, provide a wide range of area for the interviewee and interviewer to explore. However, sometimes closed-ended questions are necessary (e.g. specific info, non-response, children, etc.)16Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Interviewing skills require not only knowing what questions to ask, but also how to ask them. Does your baby have any problems sleeping?vs. What time does she usually go down for the evening? Does she sleep through the night? How many times does she awaken during the evening? How easily does she get back to sleep. When is she up for the day? Is she a morning + afternoon napperor just a once-a-day napper? How long does she nap for? Do you ever have to awaken her for meals?17Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Other ways to keep interactions flowing Transitional phrases Verbatim playback Paraphrasing and restatement Summarizing Clarifying Empathizing / Demonstrating understanding18Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge4/17/20087 Other ways to keep interactions flowing Transitional phrases “I see”… “Um hm” sometimes are not effective  best to back up to something relevant to what the interviewee just said Verbatim playback Repeats information that interviewee just stated Reinforces the fact that you are listening Also useful in that using the interviewee’s words “connects” you to the interviewee19Psy 427 - Cal State Northridge Paraphrasing / Restatement rephrasing the content