Probing is seen to be the part of the research process that differentiates the in-depth, unstructured interview from an everyday conversation. This nature of conversation allows for spontaneity and for questions to develop during the course of the interview, which are based on the interviewees' responses. The chief feature of the unstructured interview is the idea of probe questions that are designed to be as open as possible.
The probing technique is a crucial aspect of the research process that sets it apart from everyday conversations. It allows for a more in-depth and dynamic exchange between the researcher and participant, where questions arise naturally from the conversation and are shaped by the respondent's responses. The core feature of this approach is the use of open-ended probe questions.