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Conduct an Interview

Interviews — in which one person seeks information from another — can provide firsthand accounts of an event, authoritative interpretations of an issue, and thoughts on a subject from the people who have been affected by it. You can conduct interviews face-to-face, over the telephone, via e-mail, and even through a chat program. Effective interviews usually involve the following activities.

Decide whether to conduct an interview. Before committing yourself to designing and conducting an interview, ask yourself what kind of results you expect and what role those results will play in your essay. Ask as well whether an interview is the best technique for gaining that information, or whether you might gain it more effectively and efficiently in another way.

Sometimes the decision to interview is a natural extension of the kind of work you’re doing. A writer exploring the effects of caffeine on athletic performance, for example, might decide to interview an athlete, a coach, or an exercise physiologist. Sometimes the decision to conduct an interview isn’t so much the result of careful planning as it is the recognition of an available opportunity, such as knowing someone who has direct experience with your subject.

Decide whom to interview. Base your decisions about whom to interview on the kind of information you need for your essay.

If you’re trying to better understand a specific aspect of your subject, interview an expert in the field.
If you want to learn what people in general think about your subject, interview a number of people who are affected by it.
If you’re hoping to collect quotations from authorities, interview someone who will be recognized as knowledgeable and credible.

When you contact someone to request an interview, be ready with a list of dates and times, as well as potential meeting locations, that are mutually convenient. Most people will be happy to answer questions for you, but be careful to respect their time. Provide an estimate of how long you expect the interview to take — and don’t let it drag on longer than promised. Leave your phone number or e-mail address so that your interview candidate can contact you if a conflict arises.

Decide what to ask. Your questions should focus on the kinds of information you want to collect for your essay. Write them down ahead of time, keeping the following principles in mind:

Consider your purpose and the kind of information you want to collect. Are you seeking background information, or do you want an opinion? An answer to the question “How did this situation come about?” will be quite different from an answer to the question “What do you think about this situation?”
Ask questions that require more than a yes/no answer. You’ll learn much more from an answer to a question such as “What factors will affect your vote on referendum X?” than from an answer to “Will you vote for referendum X?”
Prepare a limited number of main questions and several follow-up questions. Good interviews seldom involve more than eight to ten main questions, but experienced interviewers know that each question can lead to several follow-up questions.
Be flexible. Be ready for the interview to go in a different direction than you planned. Often the best information comes from questions and answers you didn’t anticipate.

Carry out the interview. To increase the chances of a successful interview and leave the door open for additional questions following the interview, follow these guidelines:

Arrive early and review your questions.
Introduce yourself and ask for permission to record the interview.
Set up and test your recording equipment.
Ask your questions clearly, and be ready to respond with follow-up questions.
Take notes, even if you are using a video or audio recorder.
Be alert for related sources mentioned in the interview, and ask where you might find them.
Leave your contact information when the interview is over so that the interviewee can contact you in case new information comes up or clarifications need to be made.
Send a thank-you note.