Unprepared, changed subjects constantly, NO OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS
Time to start the interviews!
Interviews are the key to information gathering process. If you can gain a live interview with someone, that is the best. There's nothing like getting information from someone in real-time, and being able to ask follow up questions right away. This lesson has some tips for how to best go about arranging your interview.
Step 1: Research, Research, Research
The only way to come up with really good questions to ask your interviewee is to know everything you can about your topic.
Step 2: Set up the interview
We will do another short lesson on this, but you need to be polite and ask when a good time would be and what the best method of communicating would be - whether it is in person, through some type of video call, or a phone call. Emailing would be the last option, as the key to getting good information is having a conversation with the person.
Step 3: Review research and create questions
Start thinking about "need to know" questions. Try to stay away from "yes and no" questions. You want to keep your interviewee talking. Write down your questions before going to the interview. Ask open-ended questions that could have a lot of different responses. Ask specific questions to get facts. Ask questions that will help you get the information that you need.
Step 4: Be Prepared!
Practice asking your questions to a friend. Become familiar with your questions. You don't want to show up for the interview and spend the who time looking down at your paper. When you go to your interview, be ready with:
your list of questions
a notebook
a pencil
something to record the conversation
-Remember Mr. Rinaldi's advice
-Ask open ended questions. Avoid questions with yes or no answers
-Listen to the person you're interviewing. They should talk way more than you.
-Be curious. If something they say spurs a question, go ahead and ask it.
-Ask one question at a time.
Step 5: Conduct the interview
Be courteous to your interviewee. First make sure you ask if it is ok to record the interview. This will help you make sure you get all the information, but you need to make sure they are ok with it. You should be familiar with your questions, but make sure to ask for any clarifying information as the interview goes on. Don't be afraid of uncomfortable silences or pauses. Sometimes these are needed to collect thoughts and come up with an answer. Look your interviewee in the eye and be sure to listen to their responses. You don't want to ask a question later in the interview if they have already answered it.
Step 6: Recording responses
Even if you are recording the interview, take notes. You DO NOT need to write everything they say. This will slow down the interview. Write down highlights of their responses as you listen. This may be just a couple words to remind you what they said when you reflect back later. Your main goal is to have a conversation to learn about your topic. When the interview is done, you can write down anything you remember and then go back and listen to the recording.
Step 7: THANK YOU
After the interview is done, be sure to thank the interviewee for taking time to talk to you. We will also work in class to write a handwritten note to send to them to keep them updated on your project.
Step 8: Review
Go back, look at all your research and interview responses, and put it all together to finish your project!