ABSTRACT
Focused interview methodology is a qualitative research tool that can elicit in-depth responses and identify commonalities among the replies people give. The focused interview makes a specific contribution to social science research and journalism. The focused interview is a valuable tool for the journalist. In the early 1940s, both academic and commercial investigators began to develop sophisticated methods of conducting surveys. Working with newly developed quantitative, statistical designs, techniques to survey individuals accurately were studied and refined. Through much of World War II, Robert Merton and Paul Lazarsfeld continued their collaboration on communication research projects and the methods to build more effective research designs. They were joined by another communication research pioneer, Carl Hovland, who was on leave from Yale University during the war. Journalists who work on deadlines and do interviews daily use many of the principles and techniques of the focused interview, even though they may use them in a different way or for a different purpose.
