Key Informant

Within the context of survey research, key informant refers to the person with whom an interview about a particular organization, social program, problem, or interest group is conducted. In a sense, the key informant is a proxy for her or his associates at the organization or group. Key informant interviews are in-depth interviews of a select (nonrandom) group of experts who are most knowledgeable of the organization or issue. They often are used as part of program evaluations and needs assessments, though they can also be used to supplement survey findings, particularly for the interpretation of survey results. Key informants are chosen not because they are in any way representative of the general population that may be affected by whatever issue is being studied, but because they are believed to have the most knowledge of the subject matter.

Key informant interviews are especially beneficial as part of an initial assessment of an organization or community issue, allowing for a broad, informative overview of what the issues are. In survey studies, key informant interviews can be valuable in the questionnaire development process, so that all question areas and possible response options are understood. Relying on this method is also appropriate when the focus of study requires in-depth, qualitative information that cannot be collected from representative survey respondents or archival records. While the selection of key informants is not random, it is important that there be a mix of persons interviewed, reflecting all possible sides of the issue at study. Key informant interviews are most commonly conducted face-to-face and can include closed- and open-ended questions. They are often audio-taped and transcribed so that qualitative analyses of the interviews can be performed. Key informant interviews are rarely used as the sole method of data collection for a study or particular issue, as there is little generalizability that can come from them. However, they have a useful role, especially at the beginning stages of research studies when information gathering and hypothesis building are the goal.