Appendix A: Competent Interviewing

Question Impact

In addition to considering question type, interviewers must also consider that the way in which a question is constructed can directly influence the interviewee’s response. A good question is clear, relevant, and unbiased. To create clear questions, consider the following criteria:

Make questions understandable. Ask the classic and simple news reporter’s questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how before you proceed to more complex ones (Payne, 1951).
Ensure that the wording of the questions is as direct and simple as possible. For example, asking “For whom did you vote in the last mayoral election?” will get you a more precise answer than asking “How do you vote?”
Keep the questions short and to the point.
Phrase questions positively and remain civil (Ben-Porath, 2010). For example, asking “Have you voted in campus student government elections?” is clear and objective; using negative phrasing (“You haven’t ever voted in the campus student government elections, have you?”) can be confusing and, in some cases, may be unethical and biased (Doris, 1991).

Even neutral questions can become leading questions if you fail to consider nonverbal communication (Chapter 4). If you grimace, roll your eyes, or change your tone of voice when you ask the neutral question “What, if anything, is your attitude toward fraternities and sororities on this campus?” you are actually asking a leading question (and letting others know your attitude toward the Greek system on campus).

Speaking of ethics, competent interviewers should use questions that are straightforward and avoid hidden agendas. Directed questions suggest or imply an answer. If the direction is subtle (“Wouldn’t it be so much fun if we all got together to paint my apartment this weekend?”), it is termed a leading question. Other directed questions are bolder in their biasing effect and are called loaded questions (“When was the last time you cheated on an exam?” assumes, of course, that you have cheated). Questions that provide no hint to the interviewee concerning the expected response are neutral questions—for example, “What is your opinion of the administration on this campus?” (See Table A.3 for more examples of directed questions.)

Table :

TABLE A.3 LEADING, LOADED, AND NEUTRAL QUESTIONS

Question Behavior	Definition	Example
Leading	Questions that subtly direct interviewees to the correct or desired answer	“Do you take home office supplies like most employees?”
Loaded	Extremely leading questions that almost dictate the correct answer; to be avoided in most cases	“When was the last time you took home supplies from the office?”
Neutral	Questions that allow respondents to choose their answers without pressure from the interviewer’s wording	“Do you think the office should provide you with supplies to work at home?”

AND YOU?

Question

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