RESEARCH METHOD COHEN ok

366 INTERVIEWS
Box 16.5
Guidelines for the conduct of interviews
Interviews are an interpersonal matter.
Avoid saying ‘I want to know ...’; the interviewee is doing you a favour, not being interrogated.
How to follow up on questions/answers.
How to keep people on track and how to keep the interview moving forward.
How to show respect.
How to divide your attention as interviewer and to share out the interviewees’ responses – giving them all a chance to
speak in a group interview.
Do you ask everyone in a group interview to give a response to a question
If there is more than one interviewer, what are the roles of the ‘silent’ interviewer, and dotheintervieweesknowthe
roles of the interviewers
Who is looking at whom.
If you need to look at your watch, then maybe comment on this publicly.
Try not to refer to your interview schedule; if you need to refer to it then commentonthispublicly(e.g.‘Letmejust
check that I have covered the points that I wanted’).
Avoid using your pen as a threatening weapon, pointing it at the interviewee.
Consider your non-verbal communication, eye contact, signs of anxiety, showing respect.
Give people time to think – don’t interrupt if there is silence.
How to pass over from one interviewer to another and from one interviewee to another if there is more than one
interviewer or interviewee.
How to give feedback and acceptance to the interviewees.
Should you write responses down – what messages does this give
Put yourself in the shoes of the interviewee.
What are the effects of losing eye contact or of maintaining it for too long
Think of your body posture – not too laid back and not too menacing.
How to interpret and handle silence.
Avoid looking away from the respondent if possible.
Avoid interrupting the respondent.
Avoid judging the respondent or his/her response.
The interviewer should summarize and crystallize issues and build on them – that is a way of showing respect.
How to give signs of acceptance of what people aresaying,andhowtoavoidbeingjudgemental.
Take care of timing – not too long to be boring.
Give interviewees the final chance to add any comments, and thank them at the end.
Plan how to hand over the questions to the next interviewer.
How to arrange the chairs and tables – do you have tables: they may be a barrier or a protection
Identify who controls the data, and when the control of the data passes from the interviewee to the interviewer.
What to do with ‘off the record’ data
Take time to ‘manage’ the interview and keepintervieweesawareofwhatishappeningandwhereitisgoing.
Vary the volume/tone of your voice.
Avoid giving your own view or opinion; be neutral.
Who is working harder – the interviewer or the interviewee
Who is saying more – the interviewer or the interviewee
If there is more than one interviewer, how to avoid one interviewer undermining another.
Think of prompts and probes.
How to respond to people who say little
Consider the social (and physical) distance between the interviewer and interviewee(s).
Consider the layout of the furniture – circle/oval/straight line or what
Have a clear introduction which makes it clear how the interview will be conducted and how the interviewees can
respond (e.g. turn taking).
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