Conducting an Interview

1. Conducting an Interview Purdue University Writing Lab

2. How to Conduct an Interview • Determine the purpose and research the topic. • Select an interviewee. • Make contact with your interviewee. • Prepare for the interview. • Meet with your interviewee. • Follow up on your interview. Purdue University Writing Lab

3. Determine the purpose • Why are you conducting this interview? • What do you want to learn? • What do I plan to do with the information? Purdue University Writing Lab

4. Researching the Topic • Conduct background research before the interview. • Have a solid knowledge base. • Enhances credibility • Allows you to think on your feet Purdue University Writing Lab

5. Selecting Interviewees • Does the interviewee have the needed knowledge and information? • Make sure you conduct some research on your interviewee as well as the topic. • Is the interviewee available? • Use contacts. • Choose a comfortable and familiar location for interviewee. Purdue University Writing Lab

6. Selecting the interviewee • Will the person provide me with the needed information? • He/she may know the info., but may not reveal it. • You must be credible! • Do your homework on the topic and interviewee. • Carefully prepare for the interview. • Be a good listener. Look at face and eyes to show you are interested. Purdue University Writing Lab

7. Setting up the Interview • Contact the potential interviewee in advance. • Far enough in advance so he/she has time to get ready. • Not so far that his/her schedule is not set. • Make an appointment. • Introduce self and capacity in which you are calling. • Explain purpose of call and identify the topic you will be discussing. • Request permission to set a time and place. Remember, this person is doing you a favor. • Let the interviewee know how much time the interview will take. Purdue University Writing Lab

8. Preparing for the interview • Be sure to write out a list of questions in advance. • Decide which questions are highest priority if time runs short. • Decide what your goals are for the interview. Purdue University Writing Lab

9. Coming up with Questions • Ask yourself: “What is it that I need to know? • Write down a list of things that you are hoping to find out. • Write a list of questions that you think will lead to these answers. • Check the questions carefully to see if the wording could be offensive to your interviewee. Purdue University Writing Lab

10. Interview questions • Use language precise, concrete language. • Make your questions relevant to topic. • Make the order of the questions logical. • Do not ask multiple questions, like how and why at the same time. • Reserve a general knowledge question for end. For example, “Have other things occurred to you during the interview that you would like to share?” Purdue University Writing Lab

11. Meeting the Interviewee • Be punctual, not early and not late. • Introduce yourself and remind them of what you would like to discuss. • Always bring a stiff-backed notebook and several trustworthy writing instruments. • If you wish to tape-record your interview, always ask before doing so. • Keep notes on the interview, but make sure that you are still talking to the interviewee, not just scribbling. Purdue University Writing Lab

12. Meeting the Interviewee(cont.) • Be sure that you come to the interview with a prepared list of questions (more than you think you’ll need!) • Try to stick to the topic at hand, but be ready to be flexible if your interviewee brings up unexpected but valuable information. • Try to get some direct quotes. Ask if you can quote him/her. Purdue University Writing Lab

13. Online Interviewing • If you need to interview via email, don’t forget to ask permission for the interview. • Make sure that you establish the scope of the interview and the amount of time the interviewee is committing to. • Remember that the same rules of courtesy still apply. Purdue University Writing Lab

14. Ending the Interview • Stick to your time frame. If you said the interview would last 30 minutes, keep it to 30 minutes. • Briefly summarize what you have covered at the end of the interview. • Thank the interviewee for his/her time. Purdue University Writing Lab

15. Following up the Interview • Always be sure to thank your interviewee, orally and in writing. • Once you have written up your results, let your interviewee see the results, in order to confirm that you’ve represented him/her accurately. • Write up your results soon after the interview while they’re fresh in your mind. Purdue University Writing Lab

16. Conducting an Interview • Remember, conducting a successful interview involves attention to each of the following steps: • Making contact • Preparing for the interview • Meeting the interviewee • Following up on the interview Purdue University Writing Lab

17. Information adapted from the following sources: • Purdue University Writing Lab • NIU English Department, www.engl.niu.edu/wac/interview.html • “Conducting the Information Interview” www.roguecom.com Purdue University Writing Lab

18. Where can you go for more help with field research? • The Writing Lab Heavilon Hall Room 226 494-3723 http://owl.english.purdue.edu Or email owl@owl.english.purdue.edu with brief questions. Purdue University Writing Lab