What term describes a conversation aimed at gathering information from another person?

The term that describes a conversation aimed at gathering information from another person is "interview." This process typically involves asking questions to elicit detailed responses, allowing the interviewer to gather specific information on a topic, person, or event. In contexts such as policing or investigative work, interviews are structured approaches to collect facts, perceptions, or narratives that help build a comprehensive understanding of an issue or situation.

While interrogation is more focused on questioning a suspect in a law enforcement capacity to obtain a confession or deceitful admissions, an interview serves to obtain information without the pressure typically associated with an interrogation context. A dialogue usually refers to a two-way conversation without a specific goal of information gathering, while a discussion involves exchange of ideas that may not necessitate inquiry at all. Thus, the interview stands out as the most fitting descriptor for a conversation specifically aimed at gathering information.