Interview Basics

A good interview takes curiosity and preparation. To deepen your understanding of your TISK, you need to develop a curiosity about the topic and learn from someone else. You will be required to record and submit your interview so you need to get it right the first time. This requires preparation. Below are some helpful tips on how to do that:

To be a top solver, follow these additional tips from Harvard University's Department of Sociology on how to conduct qualitative interviews:

Finding the right source

• Make a list of anyone who has any knowledge or experience with the topic you are researching.
• Make a list of anyone who is directly or indirectly affected by the topic your are researching.

Develop good questions (before your interview)

• Begin with open-ended questions your respondent can answer easily or questions to help you establish a rapport, it doesn’t have to pertain directly to the interview.  
• Ask simple questions that elicit long answers; avoid questions with one word-answers.
• Don’t ask people to answer on behalf of a group they are a part of (“What do women like you think of… “ or “What do people here think about... “).
• Write down the broad questions you need to answer in your interview, then write specific questions that will help clarify or get deeper answers for those broader questions.
• Ask “how” questions rather than “why” questions to get stories of process rather than interpretive accounts. “How did you get involved with this cause?”
• Ask follow-ups to probe deeper and get more detailed or elaborate responses.
• Don’t be afraid to ask hard or embarrassing questions, but ask toward the end of the interview.

Setting up the interview

• You can set up an interview by phone or video chat, but when possible, do your interviews in person. You will get deeper responses and be better able to read the responses when you can interpret body language, along with speech.
• When you contact a potential interviewee, explain the purpose of the interview and why you have chosen that person to interview. LET THEM KNOW YOU WILL BE RECORDING THE INTERVIEW.
• Find a time that works for both of you in a public space without too much noise or distraction. If you are doing a phone call or video chat, confirm a time and make sure both parties understand the technology being used (skype, zoom, etc).
• Bring a buddy. It may help to have one person record and write notes while the other is asking the questions.

Conducting the interview

Practice good social skills in your interview-- warmth, gratitude, curiosity.

• DO make eye contact
• DO explain the purpose and subject of the interview
• DO shake hands
• DON’T interrupt
• DON’T judge your subject’s responses
• DO be an active listener- lean in, repeat back responses, “Tell me more about that,” “Wow, that’s interesting.”
• DO thank your interviewee
• DON’T be afraid of silence, let your respondent take time to think about your question and formulate their response. Leaving a silence after a response will encourage your respondent to elaborate.

Additional Resources

• Learn from one of the best journalists of our time, Katie Couric.
• Learn more about the Art of Asking Questions.