Face-To-Face Interviews vs. Telephone Interviews

Color Priming Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of self-administered interviewing, face-to-face interviewing, and telephone interviewing? Interviewing in many instances relies heavily on first impressions and communication amplitude. Depending on the form of interview, non-verbal cues, appearance, and disposition all created a framework in which to properly evaluate an individual. When looking at the three forms of interviewing: self-administered, face-to-face, and telephone, each has its own distinct advantages relative its peers. To begin, self-administered interviewing arguable provides the most freedom in regards to interviewee response.

Self-administered interviewing utilizes a standardized protocol of clear instructions and questions that enable witnesses to provide their own statement. As such, this method is therefore ideal for use when restricted resources mean that a traditional interview is not possible. This form of interviewing is particularly useful in sudden, unexpected events. Examples include, terrorist attacks, insurance claims, or criminal activity. In many of these instances, information is needed in a quick, and rapid manner. For one, individual recall is better, if the event is recent.

By delaying an interview for a more formal setting, the overall investigation may be hindered, due to lack of individual recall. Below is chart indicted how rapidly events are forgotten overtime. As the chart indicated after roughly 6 seconds, only 41% of information is remembered. This statistic will vary depending on the severity of the event. However, the information indicates that individuals are very susceptible to forgetting particular events or circumstances critical to investigations. As such, the self-administered form of interview attempts to counteract this occurrence through quick and standardized protocol.

A disadvantage in utilizing this method is that individuals can easily misconstrue facts or simply lie about an occurrence. Psychological aspects, particularly in traumatic events, may cause individuals to lie to themselves in order to cope with the event. Loss of a loved one in a sudden accident, divorce, or sickness can create a culture of denial in the individual. This psychological component can eventually be embedded in the individual's response to a SAI (Aneshensel, 1982). Face-to-face interview are arguably the most traditional form of interviewing.

It requires an interaction in person within the candidate or interviewee. This form of interview has its advantages in its ability to ascertain individual character. Aspects such as presentation, timeliness, communication, and due diligence can all are ascertained through this approach. The face-to-face interview can also verify qualities that are difficult to determine on paper. Aspects such as non-verbal cues, or overall presentation can be better accessed.

This provides the company or interviewer with a more complete picture of the candidate and his overall quality The negative aspects of face-to-face interviewing are biases imbedded in the process. An interviewer, although seemingly unbiased may place greater weight on particular aspects of the interviewee. The interviewer may simply.