1. Conducting an Interview
This presentation is designed to teach students techniques and etiquette for effective interviewing when conducting field research for their classes.
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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.
This screen provides an overview of the major points for discussion in this presentation.
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3. Purdue University Writing Lab
Determine the purpose
Why are you conducting this interview?
What do you want to learn?
What do I plan to do with the information?
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4. Purdue University Writing Lab
Researching the Topic
Conduct background research before the interview.
Have a solid knowledge base.
Enhances credibility
Allows you to think on your feet
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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.
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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.
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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.
This screen emphasizes the importance of etiquette in the interviewing process. Remind students that the more polite and thoughtful they are, the more their interviewee will be willing to help them.
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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.
This point in the presentation can be a good time to stop and brainstorm possible questions with your students.
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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.
This screen provides more brainstorming material.
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10. Purdue University Writing Lab
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?”
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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.
It’s worthwhile to remind your students here that details like pens that work and well-sharpened pencils can make the difference between a successful interview and an unsuccessful one. This screen is also a good place to discuss the ethical obligations that the interviewer has to the interviewee.
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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.
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13. Purdue University Writing Lab
Online Interviewing
If you need to interview via , 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.
Online interviewing is becoming an increasingly common form of field research, but students must remember that they still owe it to their interviewee to ask in advance and to indicate the nature and scope of the interview. Instructors may wish to use our PowerPoint on etiquette as a supplement to this presentation if they are encouraging interviews.
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14. Purdue University Writing Lab
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.
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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.
Instructors should remind their students of the importance of courtesy. This screen can also afford an opportunity to comment on the importance of verification for academic research.
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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
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17. Information adapted from the following sources:
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NIU English Department,
“Conducting the Information Interview”
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18. Where can you go for more help with field research?
The Writing Lab
Heavilon Hall Room 226 Or
with brief questions.
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