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Objective
In this lesson, you will learn how to plan and conduct interviews
to use as research sources.
Planning an Interview
Due Diligence or Pre-Research
A good interview is based on “due diligence,” or proper background
research. The people you interview expect you to know a little about
your subject, so do some preliminary research to help form effective,
meaningful questions and to avoid wasting interview time on questions
that could be researched elsewhere. Learn a little about your interviewee,
too, so you can guide the interview to areas that he or she knows the
most about. You can find this kind of information in an online search
engine or sites on social networking groups.
Prepare a Narrative or Script
Scripting or writing out your interview plans is helpful because it:
1) prevents you from freezing if you get stressed, 2) keeps you on topic,
3) ensures you cover all the questions you want to ask, and 4) gives you
the opportunity to e-mail your questions to the interviewee for answers.
Schedule an interview in advance rather than hoping to conduct an interview
on the spot and consider creating a script for the initial interview request.
Being prepared and confident like this might make it easier to land the
initial interview. The following greeting is a great model for your initial request:
"Hello! My name is Kendra Lapin. I’m a student at XYZ School,
working on a paper about local recycling programs, and I hope you could help
me. Do you have time for a few questions?"
If you have a connection to the interviewee, modify the script to state
that connection:
"Hello! My name is Kendra Lapin. Mrs. Jane White at St.
Paul’s Church said that I should call you for a paper on recycling that I’m
working on for school. Do you have a little time?"
"Hello, Kat/Mrs. Nylis. This is Kendra Lapin. I attended
your talk on recycling about a month ago, and I was hoping you could help
me on a paper I’m working on for school. Do you have a few minutes?"
In the scripted list of questions, include a question to confirm that the
proper spelling of your interviewee’s name, his or her proper title, and the
best contact information for follow-up question. Include a final question like
"Is there anything I didn’t cover that you feel is important to this topic?"
to give the interviewee an opportunity to add a few closing comments.
Develop Open-Ended Questions
It is important to use open-ended questions in interviews to help the
interviewee start talking and explaining. An open-ended question is a one
that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” To ask open-ended
questions, begin with the questions journalists use: who, what, when, where,
why, and how like the following examples:
"How do you feel about ongoing debate about the new recycling
laws for our county?"
"What is the overall response you’ve seen to similar recycling programs?"
"Why do you think people are responding so strongly to this issue?"
Conducting the Interview
Interviewing by e-mail is quite simple. Communicate over e-mail, send
the questions, receive the answers, and if necessary, follow up if there is
any confusion. In a case where more information is required or where a response
needs to be clarified, ask the question in the e-mail like this example:
Dear Mrs. Barber:
I appreciate the time you spent answering my questions; your responses are very helpful.
In your response, you mention that Maybrook needs to enact a mandatory recycling program.
What benefits would enacting a mandatory recycling program have for Maybrook?
Thank you,
Janae Foote
Unlike e-mail, conducting an interview over the phone or in-person requires a way to
record a session. Using a high-quality digital or tape recorder is ideal, since the
interview can be replayed as many times as needed. However, since it is illegal to record
a conversation without prior consent in many areas, always get permission to record the
interview from the interviewee; this consent should be recorded in addition to the interview.
Taking notes is the most common way of recording interviews, and many interviewers still
take notes even if they are recording, after confirm that taking notes is acceptable to the
subject. It’s a good idea to practice note-taking with friends and family before trying it
in an interview, however, to acquire speed and accuracy. Even with practice, you may have
to ask the interviewee to slow down or pause a moment; most interviewees are very good with
these requests because they prefer the notes and report be accurate.
After the interview, always thank your interviewee for his or her time.
Verify your Interview Information
Type a transcript of the interview as soon as possible to be sure your notes and memory
are correct. After speaking, offer to send the interviewee a copy of the transcript so
that she or he can make any changes or clarifications.
Build a Positive Relationship through the Interview
A positive relationship with the interviewee can lead to a more successful
session now and in the future. Building this relationship starts with an open
mind; be willing to listen to the interviewee’s opinions about the topic. After
all, his or her opinion and perspective are necessary to provide a balanced and
informed account, especially if your own views on the subject matter are different.
Do not go into an interview hoping to change the interviewee’s beliefs, as this
is considered terribly rude. At best, your interviewee will shut down and give you
very little helpful information. At worst, you could offend your interviewee and
create a bad relationship that may last long-term. Respect is an absolute must in
an interview.
Learn to express personal opinions anonymously. For instance, instead of saying
"This new recycling program costs more money than it’s worth to the environment,"
the interviewer might say, "Some people say that this new recycling program costs
more money than it is worth to the environment. What is your response to them?"
By placing this question in the context of what "some people" believe, the
interviewer is able to assert his or her position without appearing argumentative.
In both the transcript and report, be true to the interviewee’s intent.
A positive interviewer might write:
Mr. Loki, representative for Auburn recycling, states, "I know
that many residents feel that the taxes required to support the full spectrum
recycling program are high, but people need to consider the cost required to
maintain the already overfilled dump, dispose of all the waste that could be
recycled, and the rising cost of raw materials, such as oil or corn.”
A less honest person could simply quote Mr. Loki saying:
"I know that many residents feel that the taxes required to
support the full spectrum recycling program are high..."
By not including the entire quote, the writer is misrepresenting Mr. Loki’s
meaning and could be accused of libel, written falsehoods that damage a person’s
reputation. Make interviewees proud by quoting wisely; this will greatly
support a positive relationship and make your interviewee more apt to help
you in the future.
Positive E-mail Interviews
Proofread your e-mails and maintain a professional writing voice. Avoid
text- or chat-speak as the following example does.
Dear Dr. Newton:
Thank you for taking the time to look at my questions. I’ve attached them in
a Word document. Please let me know that you receive them in good order and
if you have any questions for me.
My due date for this piece is Friday, May 8th. I look forward to your responses.
Thank you very much for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
Gracie Canus
As Gracie did above, announce the project’s due date so that the interview subject
is aware of your deadlines. If the interviewee does not respond in 2-3 days,
it is appropriate to e-mail again.
Dear Ms. Suka:
I e-mailed you my questions a few days ago and want to make sure you received them.
Please let me know if I need to send them again.
I look forward to your responses by May 8th, and thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Nickey Doxy
Positive Phone Interview
When setting up a phone interview, follow up in 2-3 days if you have not heard from
your interviewee. Unfortunately, some interviewees do "decline" interviews by ignoring
e-mails and phone calls, so have at least one backup interviewee. Other times, people
simply do forget – or the e-mails really do get lost – and your follow-up reminder
will be enough.
Summary and Using Interviews
An interview, like most research, provides more information than a project requires.
Having a thesis or main point in mind while reviewing the notes makes it easier to select
quotations that are appropriate and representative. Two or three sentences from the
interview and a few short summaries from the interview may suffice for a 10-page paper;
even less will do for a shorter paper. Using too much material creates a summary of
the interview; instead, work to incorporate the results of the interview as support
for your topic. Choose only the strongest, best-worded quotations that support your
position (or represent a valid counterargument) and that best
represent your interviewees.
  
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