3. Question Types
• Initial/Introducing Questions: These questions introduce new topics to discuss.
• Examples:
• Can you tell me about...?
• I am interested in learning more about ___. Could you tell me a little bit about your
experience with_____?
• What are some other initial/introducing questions that you could use for your
interview?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
4. What comes next?
You can use these to get the interviewee to speak more.
• silence: most people are uncomfortable with silence, so they will try to "fill" it by
talking; as the interviewer, you may choose to use silence to encourage the
interviewee to say more.
• nudging probes: these "questions" encourage interviewees to keep talking, but don't
suggest a particular direction
• Examples:
• I see. (rising intonation)
• Go on.
• Mmm.hmm. (rising intonation)
• uh huh.. (rising intonation)
• Can you think of any other nudging probes?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
http://www.roguecom.com/interview/module4.html
5. Clarification Questions
You can use these to clarify any initial answers.
• Examples:
• What did you mean by ______?
• Sorry, I didn’t catch the last part of what you said. Could you repeat it, please?
• So you think____. Is that right?(this one also involves summarization too).
• I’m not sure I understand what you mean by _____.
• What are some other clarification questions that you could use for your interview?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
6. Clearinghouse Questions
These can be used to check whether or not you have elicited all the information an
interviewee wants to provide on a topic or in the interview.
• Examples
• Is there anything else you would like to add?
• Is there anything important about academic life at PSU that we didn’t discuss?
• Can you think of any other clearinghouse probes?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
7. Going Deeper..
questions to increase depth of content: These questions encourage interviewees to
provide greater information about a particular topic.
Examples
• Can you tell me more about____?
• Can you think of other examples of types of assignments you have in your classes?
• Can you think of any other questions you could ask to learn more about a particular
topic?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
8. Getting Back on Track…
questions to get the interviewee back on track: You can use these when the
interviewee veers far away from the topic or doesn't answer the question you asked.
Examples
• Let's return to your experience in your chemistry class…
• You began by talking about advice you would give to incoming PSU students…
Can you think of any other statements or questions you could use to get the interviewee
back on track?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
9. Hypothetical Questions
hypothetical questions: You can use these to encourage the interviewee to be
reflective.
Examples
• If you could go back in time to before you enrolled in PSU, would you have changed
anything about your preparation for college?
• What do you think would happen if you didn’t attend class for a week? What would
the consequences be?
Can you think of other hypothetical questions that might be interesting to ask during your
interview?
• 1.
• 2.
10. Embedded Questions
direct questions embedded questions
Is it necessary to do HW in college? Do you know if it is necessary to do HW in
college?
Should I send in my application early? Do you know whether or not I should send in my
application early?
GRAMMAR FOCUS
embedded questions: These can be used for many purposes, but often make the questions less direct and more polite.
common structure for embedded questions:
common question stems for embedded questions:
Do you know…
Can you remember..
Could you tell me…
Could you explain…
Structure: question stem + wh-word/if/whether or not + subject + verb
•Do you know which book I would buy for that class?
•Can you remember where the application form is located?
•Could you tell me whether or not you find this class to be helpful?
What are some other embedded questions that you could ask during your interview?
1.
2.
3.
11. Interview Examples
• Task: Watch the interviews and take notes
on questions you might like to ask and/or
behaviors that you think are successful.
12. HW
PSU Observation Voicethread comment(s) Due by
2/27 at midnight
Tutoring and Conversation Partnership recording
and reflection due (2/29) (Meeting 2)
