Interviewer Bias

Interviewing is a critical skill for the occupational health nurse when making clinical decisions as well as when conducting research; it allows the investigator to obtain information that would be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain by any other method. The personal qualities of the interviewer are key determinants of the outcome of the interview. Recognition of the potential for interviewer bias, attention to the characteristics of the respondents, and an analysis of the tasks required in the investigation will maximize the accuracy of the interview. Interviewer selection and training may be one of the most important tasks for the researcher.