InterviewTips

Interview Tips

1. Identify yourself, "I’m Jane Doe from the University of South Florida."

2. Explain purpose and confidentiality, "I’m doing a class project in which we are surveying students about their preferences for teaching methods. The questions we will ask you are all about your USF experiences. They are completely confidential—in fact I will not record your name. Your participation is entirely voluntary, but it would help me out if you would answer a few questions. It will only take 5 minutes."

3. Standardize questions. All questions should be prepared in advance. Each question should be asked each time in the same way. Every interviewee should get the same questions. Be familiar with all questions before you begin conducting interviews.

4. Completely ask question and response choices (if any).

5. DON’T lead the interviewee. "Did you like that class?" NOT "You liked that class, didn’t you?"

6. DON’T give your opinion. Remain neutral.

7. DON’T react to the interviewee, even if you disagree, and even if the person says something distasteful. Your purpose is to get information so try to remain as neutral as possible. Do not get into an argument with anyone. If they really bother you, thank them and hang up.

8. DO probe for more information, "Can you explain that?", "Can you give an example?", "I’m not sure what you mean, can you rephrase?", "I didn’t follow that, can you repeat it?"

9. Respect privacy. Maintain anonymity of respondents at all costs, unless the person threatens to harm someone.

10. Be professional. You have gotten the person to talk under certain conditions, i.e., to provide research data for a project, so maintain the agreement with the subject.