Essential Assessment Tools: Questionnaires and Interviews

B. Tools for Collecting Information in Assessment

Questionnaires

A questionnaire consists of an annotated list of questions to be answered by others. It is designed to obtain information on opinions, actions, or specific situations. Questionnaires are essential instruments for assessment, particularly in school management. There are also inventories used to evaluate the habits, attitudes, opinions, and behaviors of a group.

When preparing a questionnaire, ensure the objectives are clear and the questions are organized logically. Questions can be:

• Open: Subjective and more difficult to evaluate.
• Closed: Objectively assessable.

The Interview

The interview is an instrument for obtaining information from children and parents regarding various aspects of a child's development. An effective interview plan should incorporate the following elements:

• Logistics: The date, time, and participants involved.
• Purpose: Every interview must have a clear goal to guide the conversation.
• Interview Script: Essential for planning, this should outline the key points and specific questions to be asked.

Example of an initial interview script:

• Family structure (siblings, relationships, etc.).
• Educational history (previous schools or facilities).
• Habits (e.g., toilet training stage).

Building Rapport

Rapport refers to the process of establishing and maintaining a connection with the interviewee throughout the session. Recommendations include:

• Avoid starting with an interrogation; share an anecdote about the child to break the ice.
• Observe if the person is on the defensive.
• If a questionnaire item is sensitive, do not force an answer.

Conducting and Completing the Interview

The interviewer should always steer the conversation toward the information goals. Do not prolong the interview unnecessarily; close it once the information in the script has been obtained. Signs that the interview is complete include:

• Frequent silences.
• Repetitions of the same information.

Note-taking: Always provide a dedicated space or time for recording essential information.