Conducting An Interview

1. Conducting An Interview Gathering Expert/Eyewitness Information

2. Step 1: Gather Background Information • Become knowledgeable about the topic in order to select a potential interviewee and create intelligent questions • Read multiple digital and/or print resources • Books • Periodicals (magazines, newspapers, journals) • Databases • Websites

3. Step 2: Identify A Candidate • Expert: someone who is very knowledgeable about the topic • Eyewitness: someone who saw something happen in-person • Participant: someone who was involved in an activity/event

4. Step 3: Create Questions • Specific • Open-ended (avoid yes/no questions) • Edit list of questions • eliminate irrelevant and redundant questions • list remaining questions logically and in order of importance • check questions for clarity • approximate the amount of time needed to ask

5. Step 4: Schedule An Interview • Contact interviewee in-person, by phone, via email/regular mail • Websites often have contact info. • Be polite and accommodating • Identify yourself, explain the purpose of the interview, and how much time it will take • Reveal the kind of questions that will be asked

6. Step 5: Conduct The Interview • Be punctual, polite, and prepared • Take notes • Ask permission to record and/or use quotes • Give the interviewee plenty of time to respond thoughtfully • Ask for clarification or elaboration when necessary

7. Step 6: Use Information • After the interview, fill in any information or details that time did not permit while it is still fresh in your mind • Review notes and highlight or circle information to use in project/report.

8. Step 7: Give Credit • Give credit to the interviewee in the bibliography/source citation • Write a thank you letter to the interviewee