Quick Help: Conducting an interview

• Determine your exact purpose, and be sure it relates to your research question and hypothesis.
• Set up the interview well in advance. Specify how long it will take, and if you wish to record the session, ask permission to do so.
• Prepare a written list of factual and open-ended questions. Brainstorming or freewriting can help you come up with questions. (3a) Leave plenty of space for notes after each question. If the interview proceeds in a direction that seems fruitful, do not feel that you have to ask all of your prepared questions.
• Record the subject, date, time, and place of the interview.
• Even if you are taping, take notes. Ask your interviewee for permission to use video, audio, or quotations that will appear in print.
• Thank those you interview, either in person or in a letter or email.