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Interview for the bachelor thesis

Why you're doing it wrong!

Interviews are a key tool in academic research, especially in the context of bachelor theses. They offer the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the chosen topic by obtaining direct, first-hand information from experts, stakeholders or other relevant people. Interviews can be used in a variety of research approaches, whether qualitative or quantitative, and play a crucial role in collecting and analyzing data beyond what is available in the literature.

In qualitative research, interviews are often used to understand complex phenomena, explore subjective experiences or uncover deeper meanings behind certain behaviors. The focus here is on the individual perspectives and opinions of the interviewees. In quantitative research, on the other hand, interviews can be structured in order to collect specific, measurable data that can then be statistically analyzed.

Whether qualitative or quantitative, interviews are often part of a comprehensive research design and can help to close research gaps, test hypotheses or gain new insights. However, they require careful planning and execution in order to achieve valid and reliable results. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the different aspects of the interview process for a bachelor thesis and provide valuable tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes and fully utilize the potential of this method.

Author: Luca Gudermann
08/13/24
08:41

Is an interview the right research method?

Before deciding on an interview as a research method, you should carefully consider whether it is really the best choice for your bachelor thesis. Interviews are a powerful method, but do not offer the greatest benefit in all research scenarios. Therefore, it is important to fully understand the specific requirements and objectives of your research in order to make an informed decision.

Weighing up the methods

Interviews are particularly useful if you want to gather in-depth, detailed information on a topic that cannot be gathered through simple surveys or other methods. They are ideal for exploring individual opinions, experiences or insights on a specific topic. If your research goal is to understand complex social phenomena, personal attitudes or motivational backgrounds, an interview might be the right method.

However, if your work aims to collect generalizable data from a larger population, standardized surveys or experimental designs might be more appropriate. Such methods are called quantitative research methods (see our blog article “Quantitative research methods | What are they?”). They focus less on subjective statements or experiences and allow you to analyze a quantifiable amount of data and achieve statistically meaningful results.

Advantages

Interviews allow you to gather detailed and in-depth information that is often not captured by standardized methods. You can react flexibly to new information during the interview and ask further questions to clarify unclear points. Interviews also offer the opportunity to obtain subjective experiences and opinions directly from the interviewees.

Disadvantages

Preparing, conducting and evaluating interviews is often more time-consuming than with other methods. Both the interviewer and the interviewee can influence the results through their own point of view. As interviews are often conducted with a smaller sample, the results are not always representative of a larger population.

Combination with other methods

Sometimes it can be useful to combine interviews with other research methods. For example, you can use qualitative interviews to generate hypotheses for a later quantitative survey. Alternatively, you can use interviews as a supplement to a literature review to gain practical insights into the implementation of theoretical concepts.

It is also important to check whether the resources – be it time, technical equipment or access to suitable interviewees – are available to conduct interviews successfully. If these resources are lacking, an alternative method may be more efficient.

An interview is the right method if you need qualitative, in-depth information and are prepared to put in the necessary effort. Think carefully about whether this method best suits your research objectives, or whether another method – or a combination of different methods – is better suited to answering your research questions.

Planning the interview

Planning an interview is a crucial step that can significantly influence the success of your research. Careful preparation not only helps you to conduct the interview efficiently, but also ensures that you obtain the desired information and avoid potential stumbling blocks. In this chapter, you will find out which aspects you should consider when planning an interview for your Bachelor’s thesis.

Objective: What do you want to find out through the interview?

Before you start planning, you should be clear about the aim of your interview. Think about what specific information you want to gather and how this information can contribute to answering your research question. Your objective will guide the entire interview process – from selecting the participants to formulating the questions and analyzing the results. For example, you could conduct an interview to understand the experiences of experts in a particular field, or to gain deeper insights into the behavior or opinions of a specific target group. The objective determines the direction and depth of the interview.

Selection of interview partners: criteria for choosing the right people

Choosing the right interview partners is crucial for the quality of your data. Think about which people or groups are best able to provide relevant information on your research topic. Various criteria can play a role here, such as specialist knowledge, experience, position in an organization or personal involvement. It is important that your interview partners are well informed and willing to talk openly about the topic. Also consider whether you want to interview as diverse a group as possible to get different perspectives or whether you want to focus on a specific group that can provide particularly relevant information.

Interview formats: structured, semi-structured and unstructured interview – which format is best?

There are different interview formats that are suitable for different research objectives:

Structured interview: This is a fixed set of questions that are asked in the same way to all interviewees. This form is particularly suitable for the comparability of answers and quantitative analysis.

Semi-structured interview: This format offers a balance between fixed questions and flexibility. You have a guideline with central questions, but leave room for spontaneous follow-up questions and adjustments depending on the course of the interview. This is the most commonly used format for qualitative research as it allows for both structure and depth.

Unstructured interview: In this open format, there is no set questionnaire. The interview proceeds freely and the interviewer adapts the questions and topics dynamically. This format is suitable if you want to work in an exploratory manner and strive for a deep understanding of the interviewees’ perspectives.

Questionnaire development: tips for formulating good interview questions

Formulating the questions is a crucial step in the interview planning process. Good interview questions should be clear, precise and open in order to give interviewees the opportunity to answer in detail. Avoid suggestive questions that could steer the answers in a certain direction. Instead, you should ask questions that encourage reflection and elicit deeper information. It is helpful to first create a list of main questions that cover your central research topics. Supplement these with possible follow-up questions that you can use depending on the course of the interview to delve further into certain aspects. Check your questions for comprehensibility and relevance to your research topic.

Ethics and data protection: ensure informed consent and anonymity

When conducting interviews, you must ensure that all ethical standards are adhered to. Above all, this includes maintaining anonymity and protecting the data of your interviewees. Before the interview begins, you should obtain a written consent form in which the participants are informed about the purpose of the research, the use of the data and their rights. Ensure that the data is stored securely and only used for the intended purpose. Anonymize the data if you use it in your Bachelor thesis or other publications to protect the privacy of the participants.

Careful planning of the interview is essential to achieve the desired results. From setting the objective and selecting interviewees to questionnaire development and ethical considerations, each stage of planning will help your interview run smoothly and provide valuable data for your research.

Preparation for the interview

Thorough preparation is the key to a successful interview. In addition to planning the content aspects, organizational and technical details also play an important role. In this chapter, you will learn how to optimally prepare for the interview to ensure that everything runs smoothly and that you get the information you want.

Technical preparation: recording methods (audio, video), choice of interview location

Technical preparation is an often underestimated but crucial aspect of a successful interview. You should decide in advance how you want to record the interview. The most common methods are audio recordings, but video recordings can also be useful, especially if non-verbal communication plays a role. Think about which method is best suited to your research project and make sure that you have the necessary equipment (e.g. dictation machine, smartphone, camera) available.

It is important to test the technology thoroughly before the interview. Check that the recording devices are working properly, that the batteries are charged and that there is sufficient storage space. Also remember to have a backup option ready in case of technical problems.

The choice of interview location is also important. The location should be quiet and free from distractions to create a comfortable interview atmosphere and ensure the quality of the recordings. Make sure that the room offers sufficient privacy to give the interviewees the feeling that they can speak openly and honestly.

Test run: Why a test interview makes sense

A trial run is a great way to test your interview questions and make sure the whole process goes smoothly. A test interview gives you the opportunity to review your question structure and identify any potential weaknesses or misunderstandings. It also helps you to familiarize yourself with the technology and ensure that you can concentrate on the interview during the actual interview without having to worry about technical problems.

The trial run can be conducted with a friend, fellow student or another person who has similar characteristics to your actual interview partners. Pay particular attention to the length of the interview, the comprehensibility of the questions and the general flow of the conversation.

Time management: planning the time frame and sticking to the schedule

Time management is another important aspect of preparing for the interview. It is important to set a clear time frame for the interview, both for the duration of the interview and for the beginning and end. Inform your interview partners in advance about the planned duration so that they can arrange themselves accordingly.

During the interview, you should make sure to stick to the schedule to ensure that all important questions are covered without unnecessarily interrupting or shortening the course of the interview. Allow enough time for the introduction, the actual interview and a final summary. It is also advisable to allow some buffer time in case the interview takes longer than expected.

A clear structure and a well-thought-out schedule will help you to organize the interview efficiently and ensure that all relevant topics are covered. If you are well prepared, you can concentrate fully on the content of the interview and make the most of the interview situation.

Conducting the interview

When conducting the interview, there are other tips and tricks that can contribute to the success of your Bachelor’s thesis. We present these below.

Create an atmosphere: How to create a pleasant interview atmosphere

A pleasant and trusting atmosphere is crucial for the success of an interview. The interviewee should feel comfortable and confident in order to be able to answer questions openly and honestly. Start the interview with a short, informal conversation to break the ice and create a friendly atmosphere.

It is important that you as the interviewer show a positive and respectful attitude. Make sure you listen carefully to your interviewee and let them finish without interrupting them. Your interest and appreciation of your interviewee’s opinion will help them to feel comfortable and willing to speak openly.

A calm and focused environment will also help the interviewee to relax. Make sure that there are no interruptions during the interview and that the room in which the interview takes place offers a pleasant and undisturbed atmosphere.

Questioning techniques: open questions, follow-up questions and avoiding leading questions

The way in which you ask questions has a major influence on the quality of the answers you receive. Open questions are particularly valuable as they give the interviewee the opportunity to answer in detail and freely. They often start with “How”, “Why” or “What” and encourage a detailed answer. Examples of open-ended questions could be: “How have you experienced the changes in your working environment?” or “What motivated you to work in this field?”

Follow-up questions are also important in order to obtain more depth in the answers or to clarify ambiguities. For example, if an interviewee gives a very short or vague answer, you can delve deeper into the topic with a question such as “Could you please explain that in more detail?” or “Why do you see it that way?”.

Avoid suggestive questions that could steer the interviewee in a certain direction. For example, a suggestive question could be: “Don’t you agree that this measure is problematic?” Such questions can distort the answers and impair the objectivity of the interview. Instead, you should ask neutral questions that leave room for the interviewee to express their own opinion.

Recording and documentation: Ensure that all important information is captured

Recording the interview is crucial to ensure that no important information is lost. Use the audio or video recording method chosen in preparation and check regularly during the interview that the technology is working properly.

In addition to the technical recording, it can be helpful to take notes during the interview. These notes can help you to find key points in the interview more quickly when analyzing it later or to document particular observations that may not have been fully captured in the audio recording.

It is important that you inform the interviewee that the interview is being recorded and give them the opportunity to raise any questions or concerns. This contributes to transparency and ensures that the interviewee is aware of and consents to the recording.

Dealing with difficulties: Tips for dealing with taciturn or overly talkative interviewees

Sometimes unexpected challenges can arise during an interview. Some interviewees may be very taciturn and only give short answers, while others may tend to digress from the topic or answer at great length.

With taciturn interviewees, it is important to be patient and send encouraging signals. Try to get more information by asking specific questions and emphasize that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. Sometimes it also helps to phrase the question differently or steer the conversation towards a less sensitive topic to break the ice.

With very talkative interviewees who tend to digress from the topic, it is important to politely but firmly steer the conversation back to the relevant issues. You can do this by politely interrupting and returning to a previously asked question or steering the conversation in the desired direction with a specific new question.

Why you're doing it wrong: common mistakes when interviewing for your Bachelor's thesis

Interviews are a valuable method of data collection, but they also have numerous pitfalls that can affect the quality of your results. Many of these mistakes can be avoided through careful preparation and deliberate execution.

One of the most serious mistakes when conducting interviews is an unclear or poorly defined objective. If you do not know exactly what information you want to gather with the interview, there is a risk that the conversation will drift in the wrong direction or that important topics will not be addressed. An unclear objective often leads to unstructured interviews where the data collected is difficult to analyze and does little to answer your research question. Before the interview, make sure you know exactly what information you need and how it fits into the context of your research. Create a detailed interview guide that covers the most important topics and questions.

The quality of your questions will largely determine the quality of the answers you receive. A common mistake is to ask questions that are too vague, too complex or misleading. Such questions can confuse the interviewee or lead to them not providing the desired information. Suggestive questions that imply a certain answer can also distort the results and undermine the objectivity of the interview. Therefore, check your questions in advance for clarity, precision and neutrality. Test them in a trial run to make sure they are easy to understand and provide the desired information.

Various mistakes can occur during the interview that steer the conversation in the wrong direction or leave important information unused. These include, for example, interrupting the interviewee too often, giving them too little speaking time or not responding appropriately to their answers. Unprofessional handling of the technology, such as faulty recording, can also severely impair the interview result.

The analysis of the interviews can also contain sources of error. One of the most common mistakes is the hasty interpretation of the data without having carried out a thorough evaluation. Statements are often taken out of context or over-interpreted, which leads to distorted results. Another common mistake is ignoring contradictions in the statements or overlooking important details hidden in the raw data. Take enough time to transcribe and analyze the interviews. Use systematic methods of analysis to identify patterns and themes and ensure that your interpretation of the data is objective and well-founded. Make sure that you take contradictions and different perspectives into account.

Even if the interviews have been successfully conducted and analyzed, errors in the presentation of the results can affect the validity of your work. This includes omitting important findings or insufficiently integrating the results into the theoretical context of your work. An unsystematic or unclear presentation of the results can also reduce the comprehensibility and comprehensibility of your work. Make sure that you present the results of your interviews clearly and systematically. Link them to your research question and the theoretical framework of your work. Use quotes from the interviews to support your arguments and make sure to present the results precisely and comprehensibly.

Follow-up of the interview

The follow-up of an interview is an essential step to ensure that the collected data is processed efficiently and correctly. Thorough post-processing allows you to extract and analyze the relevant information and make it usable for further research.

Transcription

Transcription is the process of converting the spoken word into written form. This is a time-consuming but necessary step in order to be able to analyze the interviews later. A full transcription gives you the opportunity to review all the details of the interview and ensure that no important information is lost. There are different approaches to transcription:

Verbatim transcription: this involves writing down every spoken word exactly as it was said, including pauses, filler words and non-verbal utterances. This method is particularly useful if the interviewee’s exact choice of words and expressions are important for your analysis.

Meaningful transcription: The essential content of the interview is reproduced without transcribing every single utterance verbatim. This method saves time and is useful if you want to concentrate on the core statements.

To make the transcription process more efficient, you can use special transcription software that automates or facilitates the process. Make sure to check the transcript afterwards to ensure that it does not contain any errors or misunderstandings.

Creating an interview protocol

In addition to the complete transcription, it can be helpful to create an interview protocol. A transcript briefly and concisely summarizes the essential content of the conversation and serves as a quick reference if you need to refer back to the interviews later. A good transcript should contain the following elements

Date and location of the interview
Name of the interviewer and interviewee
Important topics and questions that were discussed
Key quotes or important statements
Special observations or anomalies during the interview

The transcript helps you to get a quick overview of the key content of the interview and makes it easier to analyze and interpret the data later on.

Ensuring the integrity of the data

Storage and protection of interview data The protection and secure storage of interview data is essential to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information collected. Make sure to store the data in a secure location that is protected from unauthorized access. This could be a password-protected folder on your computer, external storage or a high-security cloud service. When storing and using the data, you must also comply with ethical guidelines and data protection regulations. This means that you anonymize the data before using it in your work and ensure that any personal information is only used with the consent of the interviewees.

Analysis of interviews for the bachelor thesis

Once the interviews have been transcribed and the data saved, the crucial phase of analysis begins. Analyzing the interview data is a key step that will help you interpret the information you have collected and place it in the context of your research question. In this chapter, you will learn how to analyze qualitative and quantitative interview data and which methods and tools can help you.

Qualitative data analysis: coding and categorizing responses

The qualitative analysis of interviews aims to identify patterns, themes and meanings in the statements of the interviewees. A common approach to this is coding, where you assign keywords or categories to specific sections of the text that represent relevant themes or concepts.

Coding steps:

Initial review: read the entire transcript thoroughly to get a feel for the general themes and recurring patterns.
Initial coding: Assign codes to specific passages of text that represent key themes or concepts. These codes can be based on predetermined categories or can evolve from the material.
Categorization: Group similar codes together to identify larger themes or categories.
Refinement: Review and refine the codes and categories to ensure they are accurate and meaningful.

Coding helps you to identify and organize the major themes in the interview material, which facilitates later analysis and interpretation. It is important to remain objective during this process and not distort the interviewees’ statements with your own assumptions.

Quantitative evaluation: When numbers and statistics play a role

If your interview contains a quantitative approach – for example, through structured questions that work with scales or yes/no answers – you can also use statistical methods for evaluation. Quantitative data from interviews can often be analyzed using simple frequency analyses or by calculating mean values and standard deviations.

Steps for quantitative analysis:

Data cleansing: Check the data for completeness and correctness. Missing or implausible values should be identified and dealt with.
Descriptive statistics: Perform a basic descriptive analysis to determine frequencies, means and distributions.
Comparisons and correlations: If you want to examine differences between different groups or correlations between different variables, you can use methods such as T-tests, chi-square tests or correlation analyses.

Quantitative analysis of interview data has the advantage of providing precise and objective results which, when combined with the qualitative findings, provide a comprehensive picture of your research.

Recognize themes and patterns: How to draw meaningful conclusions from the data

The next step after coding and statistical analysis is to interpret the themes and patterns identified. The aim is to draw meaningful conclusions from the data that will help answer your research question.

Tips for interpretation:

Contextualization: place the identified themes in the context of your research question and the theoretical framework of your work.
Compare: Compare the results of the different interviews with each other to identify similarities and differences.
Conclusions: Draw conclusions based on the identified patterns and correlations that support your argumentation in the paper.

Be careful not to go too far or over-interpret your data. Your conclusions should be closely linked to and supported by the actual data collected.

Use of analysis tools: Software tools to support interview analysis

The analysis of interviews can be made easier and more precise by using special software tools. The use of software can be particularly useful for large amounts of data or complex coding.

Common tools for qualitative analysis:

MAXQDA: A widely used software for qualitative data analysis that is particularly suitable for coding and categorizing texts.
NVivo: Another powerful tool that helps with the organization and analysis of qualitative data and offers extensive visualization options.
ATLAS.ti: Offers similar features to MAXQDA and NVivo, with a particular focus on visualizing relationships between different codings.

Tools for quantitative analysis:

SPSS or R: These software packages are excellent for statistical analysis of quantitative data and offer a wide range of analysis methods.
Excel: Excel can also suffice for simpler quantitative analysis, especially for calculating frequencies and mean values.

Using such tools can speed up the analysis process and increase the accuracy of the results. However, you should familiarize yourself well with the chosen software in order to take full advantage of its functions.

Integration of the results into the Bachelor thesis

Once you have successfully analyzed the interviews, it is time to integrate the results into your Bachelor’s thesis. This step is crucial in order to embed the findings into the overall context of your thesis in a meaningful way and to work out their significance for answering your research question.

Interpretation of the results: How to embed the findings from the interviews in the research context

The interpretation of the results is the step in which you place the collected data in the context of your research question and the theoretical framework of your work. The aim is to work out the significance of the interview results and show how they contribute to answering your research question.

Steps for interpretation:

Link to theory: relate the findings to the theories and concepts discussed in your literature review. Show how the findings confirm, extend or challenge existing theories.
Answering the research question: Address how the findings answer your original research question. What new insights did the interviews provide, and how do they contribute to solving the research problem?
Discussion of contradictions: If the interview results partially contradict your theoretical basis or other research findings, explain these discrepancies and offer possible explanations.

Through a clear and logical interpretation, you show how the empirical data support your argument and how they contribute to the scientific discussion in your field.

Avoid bias: Maintain objectivity when interpreting the interview data

When interpreting the results, it is important to avoid possible biases that could affect the objectivity of your analysis. Bias can arise in various ways, for example through selective perception, prejudice or an overestimation of certain statements.

Tips for avoiding bias:

Reflect on your own position: be aware of your own preconceptions and reflect on how they might influence your interpretation.
Cross-check with the raw data: Regularly check your interpretations against the original transcripts to ensure they are based on what the interviewees actually said.
Consider all perspectives: Reflect all relevant perspectives and opinions, even if they contradict your own hypothesis. A balanced presentation increases the credibility of your work.

Through conscious reflection and a systematic approach, you can minimize bias and maintain the objectivity of your work.

Presentation in continuous text: How to structure interview results and incorporate them into your work in a scientifically correct way

Presenting the interview results in the body text is an important step in making your findings comprehensible and understandable for the reader. It is crucial to present the results in a clear and structured way and to back them up with suitable quotes and examples from the interviews.

Steps towards a structured presentation:

Thematic outline: organize the results according to the themes or categories you have identified in the analysis. This helps to present the results logically and clearly.
Integration of quotes: Use quotes from the interviews to illustrate your explanations and directly reflect the point of view of the interviewees. Make sure to mark the quotes correctly and integrate them into the body text.
Link to the analysis: Always establish a connection between the individual results and the analysis you have previously conducted. Show how each result contributes to the overarching themes and to answering the research question.

Example of presentation in continuous text: “A central theme that became clear in the interviews is the importance of trust in the working environment. As one interviewee emphasized: ‘For me, trust is the basis of any successful collaboration. This statement is reflected in the literature, which describes trust as a decisive factor for team dynamics (see Meier, 2020).”

By presenting the results in a structured and well-reasoned way, you show that your work is based on solid empirical data and that it is meaningfully embedded in the theoretical context.

Conclusion

Interviews are a powerful tool in academic research, especially when it comes to gaining deeper insights into complex topics. From deciding whether an interview is the right method for your research, to careful planning and execution, to thorough follow-up and analysis – every step is crucial to achieving valid and reliable results. If you avoid the most common mistakes and integrate the results into your Bachelor’s thesis in a structured and objective way, you can write a well-founded, scientifically convincing thesis that not only answers your research question, but also makes a valuable contribution to the existing state of knowledge.

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