ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to outline some of the more pertinent characteristics of interviewees' perceptions, goals, strategies and skills. In the same way that the interviewer is making judgements concerning the interviewee, the interviewee also assesses and forms impressions of the interviewer. The interviewee may at times have radically different goals from the interviewer. In all interview contexts the interviewee will be able to exert a certain amount of influence over the messages which he is presenting to the interviewer. A further interviewee tactic which interviewers encounter in certain contexts is a lack of cooperation or disruption of the interview by the interviewee. At times interviewees may unconsciously or habitually use defence strategies in order to protect themselves in some way from unpleasant or painful experiences in the interview. Since the main role of the interviewee in most contexts is to provide information, skill in presenting information effectively is of fundamental importance.
