Interview Question Types Overview

Interview Question Types

• Open-ended questions: Encourage detailed responses and allow interviewees to elaborate. They often begin with words like "how," "what," "why," or "describe." Example: "How do you feel about the new policy?" These questions are valuable for gaining insight into perspectives and experiences.

• Closed-ended questions: Lead to specific, concise answers. They often use specific options, such as multiple choice, or require a 'yes' or 'no' response. Example: "Do you agree or disagree with the new policy?" They are useful for gathering specific data points and are easier to analyze.

• Probing questions: Follow up on previous answers to gain more depth and clarification. They aim to uncover underlying details and motivations. Example: "Can you tell me more about what you mean by that?" or "What made you feel that way?" These are vital for uncovering nuanced perspectives.

• Hypothetical questions: Explore how interviewees would respond to certain situations or scenarios. Example: "If the policy were to change, how would that impact your work?" They are useful for understanding potential reactions and anticipated outcomes.

• Leading questions: Guide interviewees toward a specific answer. While they may be useful in certain situations, posing too many can influence the interviewee’s responses and potentially bias results. Example: "Don't you agree that the new policy is a positive step forward?" They should be used sparingly.

• Specific questions: Focus on particular details and are important for gathering tailored information. Example: "What date did you start working on this project?" These help ensure you are capturing reliable data.

• General questions: Obtain a broad overview of the interviewee's thoughts or actions within the topic of study. They introduce introductory topics and set the stage for more focused lines of questioning. For example, in a job interview, "What are your goals in this role?"

Question Structure and Order

• Funneling: Starting with broad, general questions and progressively narrowing down to more specific ones. This builds rapport and allows the interviewee to become comfortable before delving into sensitive concerns.

• Inverted Funnel: Beginning with specific questions to uncover a particular concept and transitioning to increasingly wide-ranging questions. Often more effective for interviews focused on detailed tasks.

• Predetermined List: Using a structured, organized list of questions prepared beforehand. While helpful for maintaining focus, rigidity should be balanced with the ability to deviate based on insightful responses or uncovering new topics.

• Flexible/Semi-Structured: Combining a predetermined set of questions with opportunities for spontaneous follow-up or deviation based on the interviewee’s responses. This offers structure while allowing adaptability for interesting insights.