What type of data collection tool involves direct conversation?

The type of data collection tool that involves direct conversation is an interview. Interviews provide a structured or semi-structured setting where the interviewer can engage with the participant in real-time. This allows for an in-depth exploration of the participant’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The conversational nature of interviews facilitates follow-up questions and clarifications, enabling the interviewer to gather more nuanced and qualitative data.

In contrast, surveys and questionnaires typically rely on predetermined questions that participants answer independently, without the opportunity for immediate dialogue or elaboration. A focus group, while also interactive, involves multiple participants discussing a topic facilitated by a moderator rather than a one-on-one conversation format typical of interviews. Thus, interviews stand out as the tool designed for direct, meaningful exchanges between individuals.