Planning Your Data Collection: Interviewing Instructions: Use the advice and space below to start planning for some interviews Part II. Planning an Interview What is the purpose of an interview? The goal of understanding how the person you are interviewing thinks is at the center of the interview. Constantly remind yourself that the purpose of research is to learn people's perspectives, not to instruct them. What are the different types of interview questions? LEVEL ONE QUESTIONS: Simple questions that have a definitive answer (i.e. how long have you taught English at Madison Park High School?). The purposes of level one questions are: (1) to gain background information on your interviewee, (2) to learn factual information about a topic on which the interviewee may be an expert, or (3) to help the interviewee become comfortable by answering questions that are simple for her or him. An interview should always begin with level one questions.
LEVEL TWO QUESTIONS: "what do you think" and "why" questions. These questions call for some insight and perspective from the interviewee. Eliciting (drawing out) articulate (clear), well-thought answers to these questions is normally the goal of your interview. Hypothetical Questions: ask what the respondent might do or what it might be like in a particular situation; usually begins with “What if” or “Suppose” Ideal Position Question: asks the respondent to describe an ideal situation (i.e. What would make the perfect teacher in your opinion?)
LEVEL THREE QUESTIONS: Personal questions. Not a good idea for the qualitative researcher. Weed out these questions before you begin the interview. Have a peer double check to ensure that you have no level three questions.
What are the questions to avoid? Avoid multiple questions.
Avoid leading questions.
Avoid questions that can be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Part II. Planning an Interview Interview #1 [REQUIRED]: Who are you planning to interview and why? _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ What truth, view or perspective do you want to get at? _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ 1
Brainstorm some of your interview questions here: _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Interview #: 2 (A second interview will enrich your project!) Who are you planning to interview and why? _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ What truth, view or perspective do you want to get at? _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Brainstorm some of your interview questions here: _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ When you are done with your interview planning, take the necessary steps to set the interviews up. For example, you may need to set an appointment or to check to make sure that you follow any confidentiality requirements. TYPE UP YOUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS!
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