Finding and Conducting Interviews

1. Finding and Conducting Interviews

2. Interviews can provide you with valuable information on your topic Interviews can help you fill in gaps in your research Interviews can provide you with informed opinions on your topic Some interviews allow you to hear firsthand accounts of your topic Why?

3. Are Interviews Primary Sources? An artifact of the time period you are studying. Or was created by someone who was there. Not all interviews are primary sources Remember, a primary source is…

4. Primary Source Interviews You can count your interview as a primary source if The person you are interviewing participated in the event in history you are researching The person witnessed the topic you are researching The person was directly impacted by your topic in history**

5. We call this • Oral History: • Recorded story of a person’s life • The goal is to gather stories not just about their experiences but how those experiences influenced people’s lives

6. Secondary Source Interviews Your interview should be listed under secondary sources if The person you are interviewing is an expert who has researched your topic but was not there The person you are interviewing is a tour guide at a museum or a staff person at a library or archive. Descendants of historical figures

7. How to Find People to Interview • University/ College Professors • Authors of your secondary sources • Historical Societies or Museums on your topic • Special interest organizations • Military-related topics- local VFW or American Legion • Internet searches!

8. Interviewer The person who asks the questions and records the interview Decide the topic and questions to ask

9. Interviewee The person being interviewed Should be someone who experienced the topic you want to explore

10. Setting Up Your Interview Explain who you are and the purpose of the interview Schedule at least 2 weeks in advance Be sure to set up at least 45 minutes with the person. If you will be longer than 2 hours set up 2 interviews Remember that people are busy, so give them time to respond Don’t just rely on email. If you don’t hear back after a few days, call them.

11. Setting Up Your Interview Set up interviews in a location the person will be most comfortable in and it should be a quiet location Don’t forget about Skype! Make sure to confirm the address and time before the interview date

12. Preparing for Interviews • Read lots of secondary sources first • Understand the basics of your topic, background and effects • Look through some primary sources • You might be able to discuss some of these with your interviewee • Test your equipment • Do you need batteries? Is there enough memory card space? Do you know how everything works?

13. Developing Interview Questions • Create a list of 8-10 questions before the interview • Avoid yes or no questions • Don’t ask leading questions • Ask more detailed questions • Remember the goal of the interview is not for them to tell you everything they know on the subject • Goal= fill in gaps and to help you make sense of what you have already learned • Ask them if they have suggestions for your research if know of other locations you could find sources

14. Developing Interview Questions • Oral history • Ask them how they felt, how it impacted them, how it affected those around them • Don’t get hung up on specific dates • Experts • Great resource to help you understand context • Ask questions about topic’s significance in history

15. Conducting the Interview Introduce yourself and thank the person Explain the purpose of the interview and how you plan on using it in your project Set up equipment and test it by having saying your name, date, and then have them state their name and title Have the interviewee sign a consent form

16. Conducting the Interview • Let the person talk • Give the person time to think • Be a good listener • Ask follow up questions • Ask them to spell names, locations, or words you are unsure of • It’s OK if the questions/answers go in a different direction than you planned • Leave time at the end

17. Conducting the Interview • If you are recording the interview and plan on using it for your project, it’s always a good idea to ask them to include the question in their answer • Question: “What was it like growing up in Westerville?” • Answer: “Growing up in Westerville…”

18. INTERVIEW technical tips Filming Interviews

19. After the Interview • Send a thank you note to the person you interviewed • Transcribe your interview • Write down what was said word for word • Leave out umm’s and ahh’s • Corroborate information • Compare it to information you have already gathered

20. Transcript A written or typed copy of everything that is said during the interview Usually historians will film or record the interview and type up a transcript from the recording to ensure everything is included

21. Let’s Try! Topic: Rosa Parks & Civil Rights Movement Come up with at least 2 questions you would ask Ms. Parks Come up with at 2 questions you would ask a historian/expert about Parks and/or the Civil Rights Movement

22. Questions?