Interview or survey?: A necessary difference

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/rlcs-2025-2339

Keywords:

Interviews, Surveys, Research, Research techniques, Quantitative approach

Abstract

Mr. editor.

An article by the authors Gómez Aguilar et al. was published in the magazine. (2015), result of the research project on the behavior of the television audience on social networks, An approach to the profile and most commented programs. However, it is necessary to establish a relevant difference for the field of research that deals with the techniques chosen for the selection of the instruments applied to the informants, according to the paradigm and approach selected to respond to the research problem.

In the article under analysis in this letter, mention is made in the abstracts and in the population and shows the use of interviews as a data collection technique, however, it is evident that the technique initially chosen by the authors is based on the survey.

The technique refers to the strategies used to obtain the necessary information and thus develop the understanding of what is being investigated, however, the interview as a technique is oriented to the interpersonal interaction between the researcher and the individuals under study, with the purpose of obtaining verbal answers to the questions posed regarding the problem in question (Lanuez and Fernández, 2014). On the other hand, the survey is a data collection technique that involves the formulation and administration of a set of questions to a representative sample of individuals in order to collect information about a particular problem. It is usually widely used because it allows obtain data quickly and efficiently (Anguita et al., 2003).

However, if what the authors intended to point out was an interview, the reader should be guided to its precise use to obtain the information through the technique and instruments selected during the project and the mixed approach for the application of interviews. and surveys according to the established objectives, in addition to contextualizing the way in which it was carried out and the type of sampling used, as well as the methodological aspects that derive from it.

Due to the aforementioned, the correct use of the term interview is recommended to avoid discrepancies in conceptualization.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Tatiana Carolina Blanchar Martinez, University of La Guajira, Colombia

Doctorate in Educational Sciences at the Cuauhtémoc University, Aguas Calientes campus in Mexico, Specialist in Research Methods and Techniques in the Social Sciences, Master in Negotiation and Conflict Management, Specialist in Labor Law, Lawyer. CvLAC. researcher at the University of La Guajira, ETNIA research group endorsed by the University of La Guajira and categorized by MinCiencias, category B. Professional experience as a legal advisor in the field of labor law to private companies. Advisor to private companies in the area of ​​state contracting focused on the Secop I and II platform. Occasional teacher at the University of La Guajira.

Nerys Esther Martinez Trujillo, University of La Guajira, Colombia

Doctor in Management Sciences, Master in Education, Specialist in Educational Management, Social Worker. GrupLAC-CvLAC. researcher at the University of La Guajira, leader of the ETNIA research group endorsed by the University of La Guajira and categorized by MinCiencias COL0131472 Category B, associate researcher by MinCiencias, director of the ETNIAS research hotbed. Participation in the construction of the Qualified Registry of the Programs of Social Work, Accounting, Degree in Childhood Pedagogy and Social Promotion University of La Guajira Villanueva Extension. Member of the Self-Evaluation Committee of the Business Administration and Social Work Program. Representative of the ETNIA Research group before the Research Committee of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences. Representative of the extensions before the Central Research Committee.

References

Anguita, J. C., Labrador, J. R., Campos, J. D., Casas Anguita, J., Repullo Labrador, J. y Donado Campos, J. (2003). La encuesta como técnica de investigación. Elaboración de cuestionarios y tratamiento estadístico de los datos (I). Atención primaria, 31(8), 527-538. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0212-6567(03)70728-8

Gómez Aguilar, M., Paniagua Rojano, F. y Farias Batlle, P. (2015). Comportamiento de la audiencia de televisión en las redes sociales. Una aproximación al perfil y programas más comentados. Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, 70, 539-551. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2015-1058

Lanuez, M. y Fernández, E. (2014). Metodología de la Investigación Educativa. IPLAC.

Published

2024-04-30

How to Cite

Blanchar Martinez, Tatiana Carolina, and Nerys Esther Martinez Trujillo. 2024. “ Interview or survey?: A necessary difference”. Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, no. 83 (April). https://doi.org/10.4185/rlcs-2025-2339.

Issue

Section

Letters to the Editor