What interviewing strategy ensures that interviewees feel comfortable sharing information?

Active listening is a technique that fosters a trusting atmosphere, encouraging interviewees to open up and share information more freely. This strategy involves the interviewer fully concentrating on what the interviewee is saying, reflecting on their words, and providing appropriate feedback. By using active listening, interviewers can demonstrate empathy and validation, which can make interviewees feel understood and respected. This comfort encourages them to communicate more openly, often revealing more detailed information than they might otherwise.

The other strategies mentioned would not effectively promote a comfortable environment. Closed questions can limit responses and may create a more adversarial atmosphere, while coercion explicitly intimidates the interviewee, discouraging open dialogue. Neutrality, while important in maintaining objectivity, does not actively promote comfort or engagement in the same way that active listening does.