A conversation is a method of research in psychology. Types, advantages and disadvantages of the method

A common diagnostic method of interrogation inpsychology - this is a conversation that allows you to get information about the motives of behavior, identify the necessary features of the character, the characteristics of the subjective world of the individual. As an independent method, the conversation is intensively used in counseling, diagnostic and psychocorrectional psychology.

A conversation in psychology is a means of collecting data, as well as an instrument of persuasion, information, education. It is used in the medical, legal, political, age-related branches of psychology.

Conversation conditions

A qualified application of conversation in psychology- is the use of fundamental knowledge, communication skills, the competence of a practical psychologist as a specialist. Questions should be correctly set and formulated, and be logically interconnected. But the main condition of the method is the trust of the respondent to the researcher.

A conversation in psychology should take place in advancethe built plan, be based on mutual trust, have the form of a dialogue, not an interrogation, exclude the suggestion or clue suggested as a question. A conversation in psychology is a question-answer method of communication between the researcher and the subject in free form on a certain topic.

An important condition for conducting a method of conversation inpsychology is the observance of confidentiality, ethical norms, respect for the interlocutor. Auxiliary actions are provided by the questionnaire to verify the reliability of the data and record the conversation on the recorder.

The method of conversation is connected with external and internalobservation, suggesting the receipt of non-verbal information and its comparison with verbal: an assessment of the relationship of the subject to the researcher, the subject of conversation, the situation, the sincerity and responsibility of the individual.

Types of conversation

Types of conversation in psychology are divided into the following:

• individual;
• group - several test subjects take part in the conversation;
• structured or formalized;
• standardized - increasing the ease of processing information, but reducing the degree of cognition: it is possible incomplete information;
• non-standardized - is held unconstrainedly, prepared questions are put on the circumstances of the conversation, which increases the complexity of data processing;
• organizational: by the way of conducting - at the place of work, residence, at the office of a psychologist.

At the initiative of the following types of conversation:

• managed - occurs on the initiative of a psychologist, who supports the topic of conversation. The disproportionate nature of the initiative can create a respondent's closeness, simplifying answers to monosyllabic ones;
• uncontrollable - arises on the initiative of the defendant and can take the form of confession, and the psychologist is engaged in gathering the necessary information for the set purposes, using the ability to listen.

The structure of the conversation

Stages of conversation are not strictly limited, each of them can gradually move into the next or be planned:

1. Introduction. It plays a role in creating an atmosphere of conversation and creating the appropriate mood for the interlocutor. It is necessary to indicate the importance of the interviewee's participation in the conversation, to awaken his interest, to report on the goals of the results. In addition, you need to specify the time of testing, whether the survey is the only one with this person, mention a guarantee of confidentiality.
2. Second phase. Identification of issues that cause maximum free speech of the interlocutor on a given topic.
3. The third stage. His task is to study the problems discussed in detail by a method of transition from general questions to specific ones. The most difficult and active stage is the culmination of the conversation, in which the psychologist should listen, watch, ask questions, supporting the conversation in the right direction.
4. The final stage. Attempts are made to reduce tension, express gratitude for participation.

Creation of atmosphere

Liberation of the interlocutor has an important role: in an atmosphere of sincerity, it becomes possible to obtain the most accurate information. The researcher should exclude the circumstances provoking the insincerity of the subject, such as the fear of looking incompetent, the prohibition of mentioning third parties, the frankness in the intimate aspects of the question, the misunderstanding of the purpose of the conversation, the fear of wrong conclusions.

The course of the conversation is formed at the very beginning, sothe researcher needs to show genuine interest in the personality of the subject, his opinions, but avoid open consent or denial of the point of view. The attitude to the topic of conversation is acceptable to express facial expressions, gestures, intonation, posing additional questions, comments of a specific kind.

Perception of the interlocutor

Perception is of two types: the organizational one allows you to correctly perceive the speech of the interlocutor, the emotional, empathic is characterized by the ability to penetrate.

Replicas of the researcher can be considered questions, although they are not put in this form, and questions of the respondent are answers, regardless of subjective perception.

The psychologist should keep in mind that some of the cues that imply a certain attitude towards the interlocutor can affect the course of the conversation prior to its absolute cessation.

Repeats with a shade of condemnation are undesirable,praise, order, threat, warning, moralizing, humiliation, avoiding the problem, direct advice. Such phrases violate the natural course of the respondent's reasoning and can trigger a reaction of protection, irritation. The task of the psychologist is to direct the conversation to the appropriate channel.

Types of Hearing

Listening is divided into the following types:

1. Reflexive: its essence is to form a conversation with the help of an active speech intervention of a psychologist in the process of communication. The basic techniques of technology: clarification, rephrasing, reflection of feelings, summing up.
2. Non-reflexive listening: the psychologist controls the conversation nonverbally: facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, choice of distance. The technique is useful in cases: the expression of the respondent's own point of view, he needs to speak out, the interlocutor finds it difficult to solve the urgent problems, feels uncertain.

A conversation in psychology: merits and demerits

The advantage of the method of conversation is the prerequisites for a correct understanding of the questions, taking into account the oral, more relaxed form of answers.

The disadvantages of conversation in psychology are:

• large time costs, which is of particular importance in mass surveys;
• the need for high professional skills for an effective conversation;
• the possibility of violation of objectivity on the part of the researcher, depending on his personality, professional skills and experience.

Combining methods

The conversation is successfully used as a componentThe main method, for example, poll, observation, testing, experiment. The combination of methods of psychology - conversation, experiment, questioning, observation - provides comprehensive information that characterizes the person being studied.

Experiment in psychology is a study ingiven conditions by means of mediated intervention of the researcher. It is possible to simulate an artificial situation, the circumstances under which the subject manifests himself in a characteristic way for him.

The effectiveness of the conversation reflects the overallculture specialist and depends both on attention to words, and on the ability to receive nonverbal information. The content of the information of both types allows correctly interpreting the data and improving the reliability of the results. A successfully organized conversation is the guarantee of the accuracy of the information received.