Evasive interviewee

Definition

An evasive interviewee is someone who avoids direct answers during an interview, often using vague language or deflecting questions. This behavior can stem from various reasons, such as fear of repercussions or a desire to manipulate the conversation. Understanding how to manage such interviewees is crucial for journalists seeking clear and honest information.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Evasive interviewees often use techniques like changing the subject, providing ambiguous answers, or employing humor to divert attention from the question.
2. Recognizing patterns in an interviewee's responses can help journalists identify evasiveness and adjust their questioning strategy accordingly.
3. Effective management of an evasive interviewee requires active listening and the ability to adapt one's approach based on the interviewee's behavior.
4. Maintaining a calm and assertive demeanor while interviewing can encourage more straightforward answers from evasive individuals.
5. Building rapport with the interviewee prior to tough questions can sometimes mitigate their tendency to be evasive during the interview.

Review Questions

• How can understanding the characteristics of an evasive interviewee enhance a journalist's interviewing skills?
  • Understanding the characteristics of an evasive interviewee allows journalists to recognize when they are not receiving direct answers. This knowledge enables them to adjust their questioning techniques, such as employing probing questions or seeking clarification. By being aware of these behaviors, journalists can better navigate challenging interviews and work towards obtaining clear and informative responses.
• What strategies can journalists employ when faced with an evasive interviewee to ensure they gather the necessary information?
  • Journalists can use several strategies when dealing with an evasive interviewee. These include asking open-ended questions that require more than just a yes or no answer, utilizing probing questions to dive deeper into the topic, and observing body language for signs of discomfort or dishonesty. Additionally, creating a comfortable environment can help the interviewee feel more at ease and willing to provide honest responses.
• Evaluate the long-term implications for journalism if journalists fail to effectively manage evasive interviewees during interviews.
  • If journalists fail to effectively manage evasive interviewees, it could lead to a decline in the credibility and quality of news reporting. Incomplete or misleading information may result in misinformation being disseminated to the public, eroding trust in journalistic integrity. Furthermore, consistently inadequate handling of such situations could discourage audiences from engaging with media outlets known for lacking depth in reporting, ultimately impacting public discourse and accountability.

Related terms

Clarification: The process of asking follow-up questions to gain a clearer understanding of a subject or to ensure the interviewee's responses are well-defined.

Body Language:

Non-verbal communication cues that can provide insight into an interviewee's honesty or discomfort, often revealing whether they are being evasive.

Probing Questions: Questions designed to delve deeper into a subject and encourage the interviewee to provide more detailed responses, useful when faced with evasiveness.