Research tips
Conducting an interview
Preparing an interview guide
Kinds of question
- Unstructured interview. The interviewer uses at most an 'aide memoir' - notes to jog the memory - rather than a list of questions. The interview may be like a conversation, with the interviewer responding to the interviewee and letting them speak freely.
- Semi-structured interview. The interviewer has a list of questions or key points to be covered and works through them in a methodical manner. Similar questions are asked of each interviewee, although supplementary questions can be asked as appropriate. The interviewee can respond how they like and does not have to 'tick a box' with their answer.
- Structured interview. The interviewer asks the interviewee a series of specific questions, to which a fixed range of answers are possible ('ticking a box'). This is the typical form of interview used in social survey research, and can provide quantitative data, as in a questionnaire.
Preparing an interview guide
- Make sure you introduce yourself and explain the aim of the interview. Also adhere to academic ethics by making sure the interviewee is fully aware of the purpose of the research
- Devise your questions so they help to answer your research question, and make sure all the questions are relevant
- Try and have a sequence to your questions or topics by grouping them in themes that follow a logical sequence
- That said, make sure that you can easily move back and forth between questions or topic areas, as your interviewee may naturally move on to another subject
- Make sure your questions are clear and easy to understand - only use technical or academic language if you are sure your interviewee will understand what you mean
- Do not ask leading questions. Make sure people are free to give their own, honest answers.
Kinds of question
- Introducing questions: 'Why did you...?' or 'Can you tell me about...?' Through these questions you introduce the topic.
- Follow up questions: Through these you can elaborate on their initial answer. Questions may include: 'What did you mean...?' or 'Can you give more detail...?'
- Probing questions: You can employ direct questioning to follow up what has been said and to get more detail. 'Do you have any examples?' or 'Could you say more about...?'
- Specifying questions: Such as 'What happened when you said that?' or 'What did he say next?'
- Direct questions: Questions with a yes or no answer are direct questions. You might want to leave these questions until the end so you don't lead the interviewee to answer a certain way.
- Indirect questions: You can ask these to get the interviewee's true opinion.
- Structuring questions: These move the interview on to the next subject. For example, 'Moving on to...'
- Silence: Through pauses you can suggest to the interviewee that you want them to answer the question!
- Interpreting questions: 'Do you mean that...?' or 'Is it correct that...?'