Course Objectives
To understand: your policies and procedures interviewing as a methodology documenting interviews
To practice: developing different types of interviews and
questions conducting an interview
When to do interviews?
Background information
Technical information
Issue identification
Problem identification
Follow-up information
Categories of Evidence
Physical – direct inspection or observation
Analytical – comparisons or computations
Documentary – letter, contracts, and
invoices
Testimonial – interviews or questionnaires
Types of Interviews
Informal and conversational
Guided
Standardized open-ended
Closed, fixed response
Class Exercise #1
Review the standardized open-ended
interview, and;
Identify the type of question that was
asked.
Question Order
Non-controversial items Current condition Opinion about condition Past condition Future condition Anything else...
Question Wording
Avoid: unintentional “primes” dichotomies “why” questions implied critiques or judgments indirect questions
Class Exercise #2
Review the standardized open-ended
interview, and; identify issues in question sequence wording strengths and weaknesses
Managing the Interview: The Three P’s
Priming
Creating associations
between groups or
objects to elicit a
particular response.
Managing the Interview: The Three P’s
Probes
Following up on a
question to obtain more
information.
Elaboration
Clarification
Detail
Managing the Interview: The Three P’s
Prompts
Sends the message that
you are engaged and lets
you control the interview
through setting the pace,
tone, and tasks.
Stop. Now.I’m Serious.
Tips on Note Taking
Make attributions
correctly Note follow-up
questions and info
requests Develop a short hand
style
Closing the Interview
Stay on time Ask if they have any questions Thank the person for their time Ask for permission to follow up with
questions
Documenting Interviews
Write up your notes quickly
Identify follow up
Have others review your work
Distinguish between facts and stated
personal views
Documenting Interviews
Q&A SequenceOrganized by question
listEnsures complete
answers to questionsMay be tedious or
difficult to readMay miss big picture
Topical SequenceNarrative structure,
easy to readSummary of big pictureMay miss responses to
specific questions