The bias of interviews

This short article explores the cultural assumptions behind informal interviewing techniques. Westerners assume that "questions always have answers" and that "these answers can be given briefly", thus creating a bias in the interview "as a means of discussion". Rural people tend to regard "knowledge as something very complex... which cannot be glibly articulated in response to quick questions". Being aware of this cultural bias is essential to good interviewing, so we should "not be alarmed if people seem to be 'talking round' issues".