Interview vs. Dialogue — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 27, 2024
Interviews are structured Q&As aimed at eliciting information, while dialogues are exchanges of ideas between two or more parties.
Difference Between Interview and Dialogue
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An interview typically involves a clear distinction between the interviewer and the interviewee, with the former asking questions to elicit information, opinions, or narratives from the latter. This format is commonly used in professional, journalistic, and academic settings. In contrast, a dialogue is a more fluid exchange of ideas, thoughts, or feelings between two or more parties, emphasizing mutual understanding and exploration of topics.
Interviews are often conducted with a specific purpose or outcome in mind, such as gathering facts for a news article, assessing a candidate's suitability for a job, or exploring a person's experiences or opinions on a subject. Dialogues, on the other hand, aim to foster open communication and shared understanding, without a predetermined agenda, and are often used in collaborative, educational, or conflict-resolution settings.
The structure of an interview is generally more formal and guided by the interviewer, who prepares questions in advance and directs the conversation. Dialogues tend to be more egalitarian, with all participants having equal opportunity to speak, listen, and contribute to the conversation, allowing for a more organic flow of ideas.
In interviews, the focus is often on the interviewee, with the interviewer facilitating the conversation to extract specific information or insights. Conversely, in a dialogue, the focus is on the exchange itself, with all participants actively engaged in both speaking and listening, sharing perspectives and learning from each other.
While interviews are usually aimed at uncovering or reporting information, evaluating, or assessing, dialogues are centered around building relationships, understanding, consensus, or exploring ideas and values. The outcomes of interviews are often tangible, such as a published article, a hiring decision, or gathered research data. The outcomes of dialogues, however, can be intangible, such as increased mutual respect, shared understanding, or new insights into a problem or topic.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To elicit specific information or insights from one party.
To exchange ideas and foster mutual understanding.
Structure
Formal, with a clear distinction between roles.
Egalitarian, with equal opportunity for all to contribute.
Direction
Guided by the interviewer, with prepared questions.
Organic, with the flow of conversation determined by all.
Focus
On the interviewee and the information being sought.
On the exchange of ideas and shared understanding.
Outcome
Often tangible, like a report, article, or decision.
Often intangible, like increased understanding or consensus.
Setting
Professional, journalistic, academic.
Collaborative, educational, personal growth, conflict resolution.
Compare with Definitions
Interview
A meeting in which someone answers questions to be considered for a job or position.
She felt confident after her job interview at the tech company.
Dialogue
A tool in conflict resolution to build empathy and find common ground.
The mediator facilitated a dialogue to resolve the dispute amicably.
Interview
A structured conversation where one party asks questions to gather information from another.
The journalist's interview with the author offered deep insights into her writing process.
Dialogue
A method used in education to foster critical thinking and communication.
The teacher encouraged dialogue in class to facilitate learning.
Interview
A method of qualitative research involving direct questioning.
The researcher conducted interviews to understand the impact of social media on youth.
Dialogue
An egalitarian form of communication where all voices are valued.
The dialogue at the conference allowed for a diverse range of ideas to be shared.
Interview
A formal conversation with a set agenda or goal.
The exit interview helped the company understand reasons behind employee turnover.
Dialogue
A conversation between two or more parties to exchange ideas or perspectives.
The dialogue between the community leaders led to a new understanding.
Interview
An interaction aimed at eliciting specific insights or narratives.
The interview for the documentary provided historical context to the event.
Dialogue
An open exchange aiming for mutual understanding or problem-solving.
The workshop promoted dialogue among participants to explore solutions.
Interview
An interview is essentially a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers. In common parlance, the word "interview" refers to a one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and an interviewee.
Dialogue
Dialogue (sometimes spelled dialog in American English) is a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people, and a literary and theatrical form that depicts such an exchange. As a philosophical or didactic device, it is chiefly associated in the West with the Socratic dialogue as developed by Plato, but antecedents are also found in other traditions including Indian literature.
Interview
A meeting of people face to face, especially for consultation.
Dialogue
A conversation between two or more people.
Interview
Hold an interview with (someone)
She was interviewed by a reporter from the Daily News
Police are keen to interview two men seen nearby
Dialogue
A discussion of positions or beliefs, especially between groups to resolve a disagreement.
Interview
A formal meeting in person, especially one arranged for the assessment of the qualifications of an applicant.
Dialogue
Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative.
Interview
A conversation, such as one conducted by a reporter, in which facts or statements are elicited from another.
Dialogue
The lines or passages in a script that are intended to be spoken.
Interview
An account or a reproduction of such a conversation.
Dialogue
A literary work written in the form of a conversation
The dialogues of Plato.
Interview
(Informal) An interviewee
An actor who was a tough interview.
Dialogue
(Music) A composition or passage for two or more parts, suggestive of conversational interplay.
Interview
To obtain an interview from.
Dialogue
To express as or in a dialogue
Dialogued parts of the story.
Interview
To have an interview
Interviewed with a publishing company.
Dialogue
To engage in a dialogue.
Interview
(obsolete) An official face-to-face meeting of monarchs or other important figures.
Dialogue
A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals.
Bill and Melinda maintained a dialogue via email over the course of their long-distance relationship.
Start up a dialogue
Interview
Any face-to-face meeting, especially of an official or adversarial nature.
Dialogue
(authorship) In a dramatic or literary presentation, the verbal parts of the script or text; the verbalizations of the actors or characters.
The movie had great special effects, but the dialogue was lackluster.
Interview
A conversation in person (or, by extension, over the telephone, Internet etc.) between a journalist and someone whose opinion or statements he or she wishes to record for publication, broadcast etc.
The reporter gave the witness an interview.
Dialogue
(philosophy) A literary form, where the presentation resembles a conversation.
A literary historian, she specialized in the dialogues of ancient Greek philosophers.
Interview
A formal meeting, in person, for the assessment of a candidate or applicant.
It was a dreadful interview; I have no hope of getting the job.
Dialogue
(computing) A dialogue box.
Once the My Computer dialogue opens, select Local Disk (C:), then right click and scroll down.
Interview
An audition.
Dialogue
To discuss or negotiate so that all parties can reach an understanding.
Pearson wanted to dialogue with his overseas counterparts about the new reporting requirements.
Interview
A police interrogation of a suspect or party in an investigation.
Dialogue
(transitive) To put into dialogue form.
Interview
(transitive) To ask questions of (somebody); to have an interview.
He interviewed the witness.
The witness was interviewed.
Dialogue
(obsolete) To take part in a dialogue; to dialogize.
Interview
(intransitive) To be interviewed; to attend an interview.
Dialogue
A conversation between two or more persons; particularly, a formal conservation in theatrical performances or in scholastic exercises.
Interview
A mutual sight or view; a meeting face to face; usually, a formal or official meeting for consultation; a conference; as, the secretary had an interview with the President.
Dialogue
A written composition in which two or more persons are represented as conversing or reasoning on some topic; as, the Dialogues of Plato.
Interview
A conversation, or questioning, for the purpose of eliciting information for publication; the published statement so elicited.
Dialogue
To take part in a dialogue; to dialogize.
Interview
To have an interview with; to question or converse with, especially for the purpose of obtaining information for publication.
Dialogue
To express as in dialogue.
And dialogued for him what he would say.
Interview
The questioning of a person (or a conversation in which information is elicited); often conducted by journalists;
My interviews with teen-agers revealed a weakening of religious bonds
Dialogue
A conversation between two persons
Interview
A conference (usually with someone important);
He had a consultation with the judge
He requested an audience with the king
Dialogue
The lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction
Interview
Conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
Dialogue
A literary composition in the form of a conversation between two people;
He has read Plato's Dialogues in the original Greek
Interview
Discuss formally with (somebody) for the purpose of an evaluation;
We interviewed the job candidates
Dialogue
A discussion intended to produce an agreement;
The buyout negotiation lasted several days
They disagreed but kept an open dialogue
Talks between Israelis and Palestinians
Interview
Go for an interview in the hope of being hired;
The job candidate interviewed everywhere
Common Curiosities
What distinguishes an interview from a dialogue?
An interview is a structured Q&A aimed at information gathering, whereas a dialogue is an exchange of ideas focusing on mutual understanding.
Which is more common in professional settings?
Interviews are more common in professional settings for purposes like hiring or journalism, but dialogues are also valuable for team building and problem-solving.
Can an interview turn into a dialogue?
Yes, an interview can evolve into a dialogue if it moves beyond structured questions to an open exchange of ideas.
How important is listening in both formats?
Listening is crucial in both interviews and dialogues but serves different purposes: in interviews, to understand the interviewee's perspective; in dialogues, to build mutual understanding.
How do the outcomes of interviews and dialogues differ?
Interviews typically result in tangible outcomes like articles or decisions, whereas dialogues often lead to intangible outcomes like increased understanding or consensus.
Can dialogues be used in educational settings?
Yes, dialogues are used in education to encourage critical thinking, communication, and collaborative learning.
What skills are important for engaging in dialogue?
Engaging in dialogue requires active listening, openness, respect for diverse perspectives, and the ability to articulate one's ideas clearly.
Are there specific techniques used in facilitating dialogues?
Effective dialogue facilitation includes active listening, open-ended questioning, and creating a safe space for honest exchange.
Can interviews and dialogues occur in informal settings?
Yes, both can occur informally, like casual interviews for gathering personal stories or informal dialogues to resolve misunderstandings among friends.
What role does body language play in these formats?
Body language can convey additional meaning, indicating comfort, interest, or resistance, and is important to observe in both interviews and dialogues.
Is one more formal than the other?
Interviews tend to be more formal, with a predefined structure and roles, while dialogues are more egalitarian and organic.
How does the role of the interviewer compare to a participant in a dialogue?
The interviewer guides the conversation and asks questions, focusing on the interviewee, while participants in a dialogue contribute equally, focusing on the exchange of ideas.
How do cultural differences impact interviews and dialogues?
Cultural differences can affect communication styles, expectations, and interpretations in both interviews and dialogues, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity.
How do online platforms impact the dynamics of interviews and dialogues?
Online platforms can broaden access to interviews and dialogues but may require adjustments in communication styles and methods to maintain engagement and clarity.
What skills are important for an interviewer?
An interviewer needs skills in questioning, listening, and analyzing responses to elicit clear, comprehensive insights.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
