The Group Interview Experience as a Tool for Admission to Teacher Education

Abstract

This study deals with qualitative aspects of group interviews as a tool in selecting students for a teacher education program. It presents findings from insider research on the dynamics of group interviews, focusing on participants' experiences and the meanings they attribute to them. The aim of the study is to gain a better understanding of the group interview as an effective tool for the selection of candidates for teacher education. The participants were 107 candidates in ten groups. Data from observations, interviews, and questionnaires were gathered to examine variables that affect the performance of the candidates in the interview. The findings highlight the complexities of group interviews as a filtering tool, foremost cultural and social aspects that affect assessors' and participants' performance. Notwithstanding the complexities, the findings demonstrate the utility of the group interview in filtering out unsuitable candidates and, possibly, in marketing the institution.