Which type of interview is typically less structured and can include observational questions?

• A. Interrogation.
• B. Formal interview.
• C. Informal interview.
• D. Structured audit.

Answer: (C)

An informal interview is typically less structured and can include observational questions. It unfolds like a casual conversation rather than a fixed questionnaire, with the interviewer following topics as they come up and adapting based on the situation. This flexibility allows the interviewer to notice behavior, environment, and nonverbal cues while asking about what’s happening, blending spoken responses with observations. In corrections practice, this style helps build rapport and surface information that might not emerge through a rigid script.

Contrast this with a formal interview, which uses a predetermined set of questions and a smooth, planned progression; an interrogation, which is directive and aimed at getting specific admissions under pressure; and a structured audit, which follows a fixed framework to check compliance or performance.