Tips for Effective Research Interviews

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE RESEARCH INTERVIEWS

Maya Thomas* and M.J. Thomas

Make sure the research question is clear.
Develop a check list of the questions to be asked during the interview.
Express clearly the purpose of the interview.
Start with a neutral question to facilitate free flow of information.
Use open-ended questions so that the respondent can choose his answer.
Limit the content of each question with a single idea to avoid confusion.
Reduce questions that give responses of `yes' or `no', because they give limited information.
Do not influence the respondent by asking leading questions.
If you have not understood the response ask the respondent to repeat and clarify.
Do not assume answers.
Do not pass judgements.
Avoid irrelevant discussions.
When you change the tack, inform the respondent that you are doing so.
Keep the interview short.
At the end of the interview summarise the points reported and ask the respondent if the summary is correct.

General Guidelines for Conducting Interviews
From Free Management Library.
Seize Your Undergrad Research
From the science lab perspective, but good information for all interviews.
Teaching Beginning Undergraduates How to Do an In-depth Interview: A Teaching Note with 12 Handy Tips
This article from "Teaching Sociology" includes twelve handy in-depth interviewing tips. To access the article authenticate with your Queens user ID and password. The tips are in an appendix at the end of the article.