Psychological Communications 2: Assignment 1 (Behaviour Focused Interviewing)
Kanaya Dyara Taqiiya
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2763481
Julia van Voskuilen
Group 8
Psychological Communications 2
19 January 2024
, BEHAVIOUR FOCUSED INTERVIEWING 2
Chapter 1: My goals
I find two learning goals most relevant based on my performance in the previous
interview during Psychological Communication 1. This included the need to improve my
summarising skills, as well as my metacommunication skills. I believe enhancing my
summarising skill was required to demonstrate better understanding throughout the interview
and to keep myself intentionally aware of the interviewee’s responses. As for
metacommunication skills, the lack of it in previous interviews resulted in missed
opportunities for deeper exploration of key topics. By developing stronger
metacommunication abilities, I can proactively shape the flow and direction of the
conversation, ensuring that relevant points are covered and valuable insights are gained.
In this interview, I aim to focus on enhancing my active listening skills by practising
summarising the interviewee's key points throughout the interview rather than at the end of
the interview. This will demonstrate my understanding and provide an opportunity for the
interviewee to validate her thoughts and ideas throughout the interview. Furthermore, it will
allow me to more easily consolidate information from the interview for further reflection
following the interview. By regularly summarising the main takeaways from the
conversation, I can ensure that both parties are on the same page and that the interviewee
feels truly heard.
Chapter 2: Myself as a behaviour focused interviewer
I conducted an interview with the applicant for the Clinical Psychology Intern position at the
Amsterdam Clinic for Substance Abuse. The interview began with an introduction to the
goals and structure. The conversation commenced with a discussion about the organisation
and position, where the applicant demonstrated knowledge of the clinic's focus on substance
abuse issues and expressed personal interest based on her experiences and current studies.
The applicant’s motivation for applying was explored, emphasising her desire for active
involvement in treatment plans and diagnosis.
The interview transitioned to assessing the applicant’s emotional coping abilities. She
illustrates her coping mechanisms, including seeking support from colleagues and family, and
maintaining a diary. The discussion then shifted to teamwork, with the applicant recounting a
situation at her current job where effective teamwork was crucial. Thereafter, I presented a
hypothetical scenario related to respecting ethics. The applicant demonstrated an