Interview Questions Write 15 or more open-ended questions of substance for your American subculture inquiry project paper.  Make sure to include the name of your subculture in the title.  Specify whether these questions are for: 1) a current or former member of the subculture 2) someone who has published scholarly writings on this group 3) someone who has worked professionally with the group Remember what we discussed in class: No yes/no questions. No questions that start with "Why." Do include: Questions that will inspire thoughtful and detailed answers. Questions that will not offend the party being interviewed. 1.  Interviews In order to learn the views, opinions, and evaluations of people, we conduct interviews. Interviews can be of two types: · Structured · Unstructured In structured interviews, students prepare a set of questions and try to obtain answers to these questions. Data analysis is easier, because they have comparable categories for each respondent, and they can analyze what each respondent said as an answer to each question and compare and contrast their answers. Unstructured interviews: The researchers only have the topic of the interview but no set questions to ask the interviewee. The interview may follow whatever course the interviewee chooses to talk about. Every subject may dwell on a different aspect of the topic in question, and as a result, data from individual subjects may not be comparable. On the other hand, such data provide in depth information in great detail about individual subjects.  For our own purposes, structured interviews where the interviewer focuses on a set of predetermined questions, and tries to obtain answers to these questions are more feasible since we cannot expect our students to conduct case studies or personality analyses. I. Finding subjects: The selection of subjects to be interviewed depends on the topic of study. However, there are certain guidelines the interviewer should not neglect: 1. Do not interview people you know well personally. In such cases, the subjects hesitate to open up and share their genuine opinions with the interviewer they know personally. The answers they give will be answers given to the person they know personally, not the answers they would give to an interviewer with whom they have no personal relations. 2. It is difficult to find the right people to interview. One way is using your contacts. If you know people who know the people you want to interview, use your contacts and get an introduction to those people. 3. If you have no contacts, you may go and contact directly the people you want to study. If you are lucky and approach the target group wisely, most people may agree to collaborate with you. 4. Always introduce yourself, tell your name, where you come from, your school, what your study is about, what you are trying to do. If necessary, get a letter from your teacher describing your research study and introducing you. II. The interview · The interview .

1. Interview Questions
Write 15 or more open-ended questions of substance for your
American subculture inquiry project paper. Make sure to
include the name of your subculture in the title. Specify
whether these questions are for:
1) a current or former member of the subculture
2) someone who has published scholarly writings on this group
3) someone who has worked professionally with the group
Remember what we discussed in class:
No yes/no questions.
No questions that start with "Why."
Do include:
Questions that will inspire thoughtful and detailed answers.
Questions that will not offend the party being interviewed.
1. Interviews
In order to learn the views, opinions, and evaluations of people,
we conduct interviews. Interviews can be of two types:
· Structured
· Unstructured
In structured interviews, students prepare a set of questions and
try to obtain answers to these questions. Data analysis is easier,
because they have comparable categories for each respondent,
and they can analyze what each respondent said as an answer to
each question and compare and contrast their answers.
Unstructured interviews: The researchers only have the topic of
the interview but no set questions to ask the interviewee. The
interview may follow whatever course the interviewee chooses
to talk about. Every subject may dwell on a different aspect of
the topic in question, and as a result, data from individual
subjects may not be comparable. On the other hand, such data
provide in depth information in great detail about individual
subjects.

2. For our own purposes, structured interviews where the
interviewer focuses on a set of predetermined questions, and
tries to obtain answers to these questions are more feasible
since we cannot expect our students to conduct case studies or
personality analyses.
I. Finding subjects: The selection of subjects to be interviewed
depends on the topic of study. However, there are certain
guidelines the interviewer should not neglect:
1. Do not interview people you know well personally. In such
cases, the subjects hesitate to open up and share their genuine
opinions with the interviewer they know personally. The
answers they give will be answers given to the person they
know personally, not the answers they would give to an
interviewer with whom they have no personal relations.
2. It is difficult to find the right people to interview. One way is
using your contacts. If you know people who know the people
you want to interview, use your contacts and get an introduction
to those people.
3. If you have no contacts, you may go and contact directly the
people you want to study. If you are lucky and approach the
target group wisely, most people may agree to collaborate with
you.
4. Always introduce yourself, tell your name, where you come
from, your school, what your study is about, what you are trying
to do. If necessary, get a letter from your teacher describing
your research study and introducing you.
II. The interview
· The interview should last as long as necessary for the
interviewer to obtain the answers she needs, and for the
interviewee to express her opinions adequately.
· If possible record the interview. To do the recording, it is
necessary to ask for the permission of the interviewee first.
· Make sure that all the preset questions are answered.
· Take notes during the interview. Taking notes helps you to
record impressions that might have gotten lost if not written
down and also shows to the interviewee that you are actively

3. interested in what he has to say.
A soon as you get home, write down your impressions,
comments, etc. before you forget them. It is a good idea to keep
a research journal in which you record all your observations,
questions, problems, and interpretations.
.III. Tips on how to conduct an interview
Most people are happy to answer the questions asked by
university students and welcome them, showing a cooperative
attitude. However, there are a few guidelines every wise
researcher must be careful about:
· Be respectful, friendly and accepting
· Don’t argue with your interviewees
· Don’t judge them as right or wrong
· Let them talk at their own speed, with their choice of topics.
Sometimes it may be necessary to guide the subjects into the
topic of the interview, asking a few questions, clarifying
points.IV. Analysis of interviews
The data obtained during the interviews can be analyzed in two
ways:
1. Each interview can be analyzed and reported as an individual
case. The researcher summarizes the data, highlights certain
points, lists points of importance, and draws conclusions.
2. Data from different interviews can be analyzed for
comparative purposes, thus each respondent’s answers are
classified and interpreted in terms of points of comparison, in
terms of their attitude to certain topics. Their opinions,
evaluations, responses are classified and then compared.
Depending on the topic of research, one of the two methods may
be used.
For a sample paper based on interview technique, see “Problems
of the Turkish Theater” . "Clothing and Stereotypes" , on the
other hand, demonstrates a mixture of interview and
questionnaire techniques.
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/teachers/THE%20RESEARCH%2
0PAPER.htm#Interviews

4. Instructions for the Interview
Step 1
Be prepared with a list of questions or topics you want to cover.
Be sure your questions are neat and organized for quick
reference.
Step 2
Arrive on time or a few minutes early, whether the interview is
in person or over the phone. Your subject is being gracious by
sharing his time with you, and you should respect his schedule
by being prompt and efficient.
Step 3
Begin the interview with a minute or two of small talk, to help
you get acquainted with the interview subject, and to set her at
ease. This step is especially critical if the two of you have never
met before.
Step 4
If you’re using a tape recorder, be sure the interviewee knows
about it. Ask for permission. However, once the interview
starts, set the recorder in an inconspicuous place. Some people
get nervous or self-conscious when they are constantly
confronted with a tape recorder.
Step 5
Stick to your pre-written questions and notes as much as
possible. However, if the conversation naturally flows into an
area you hadn’t planned but the material is something you might
be able to use, don’t be in too much of a hurry to steer in back

5. on course. The most interesting answers in an interview are
often in response to questions that were never asked.
Step 6
It’s best not to take exhaustive notes during the interview.
Instead, try to maintain as much eye contact with the
interviewee as possible. Establishing a connection with the
person you’re interviewing is one of the secrets to a great
interview.
Step 7
Sit down at your computer as soon as possible after the
interview, play back the tape, and take comprehensive notes.
Write down anything and everything that you think might be
important. There will be plenty of time later to cut, rearrange,
and revise.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2160035_interview-someone-
article-research-paper.html
From: http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/researchassignment3.html
Research Essay #2: Conducting an Interview and the Release
Form
For Essay #2, you will conduct an interview with an individual
whose skills, knowledge, or experiences seem pertinent to the
argument of your research paper.
Because interviews impinge not only on your own time as a
student but also on the time of an innocent stranger, it is vital
that you prepare yourself adequately in advance. The
interviewee will have his or her own responsibilities, and taking
time out of that busy schedule to help a student is an act of
generosity. To repay that kindly deed, you should prepare your
questions in advance and be punctual and organized. If an

6. individual refuses to talk with you, do not badger her, but seek
a different respondent for this assignment.
The interview should have a clear purpose, rather than simply
being a "fishing expedition" to see what facts you turn up. The
purpose might be gaining the perspective of an expert or insider
within the field, explaining a tricky or technical issue, or
providing the reader with information normally unavailable in
books. You will need to find the interview subject early in the
writing process and set up the time in advance. It is sometimes
more convenient to arrange for the interview to take place over
the phone or via e-mail if that is preferable to both parties. You
might wish to read Carter McNamara's General Guidelines for
Conducting Interviews before you begin as a supplement to the
guidelines below:
REMEMBER:
Prepare your questions in advance before meeting with the
interviewee.
This interview is for academic purposes, not the Jerry Springer
Show or Hard Ball. Mainstream media of lowbrow taste often
engages in confrontational or aggressive questioning in order to
spark disputes, embarrassment, or scandal. That sort of
tomfoolery is both inadvisable and unnecessary for genuine
research. Often mass-media interviews serve primarily as a
source of "sound bites," snippets of quotation that sound neat,
but end up watering-down or simplifying the debate rather than
engaging in a sincere, nuanced analysis. Collecting sound bites
is not your purpose here. You are not inflating your paper with
neat-but-empty catch phrases; you are seeking to understand
something better as a part of your argument. You are seeking to
become an expert on the subject at hand.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

7. Think about what sort of person would be a useful candidate for
an interview. A professional who works within the field? An
academic who studies that issue in particular? A published
author who has already written books on that topic? A person in
the local community who deals with this issue in his or her
personal life? Identify that person and make arrangements to
contact her. Authors can often be contacted through the
publisher of their books or the editor of their journals (though
this may take a week or two). Scholars can often be contacted
through their respective departments, or through campus
directories. Professionals often have listings in the yellow pages
of the phone book. Other individuals may be harder to track
down. Allow yourself sufficient time to locate them and set
aside a little cash for a high phone bill if you are contacting
someone far away.
WHEN YOU FIRST CONTACT THE INTERVIEWEE TO SET
UP THE INTERVIEW:
1. Explain who you are, why you want to talk to them, and what
you wish to find out. The purpose of that interview should be
made clear to the interviewees before you meet them.
2. The interviewees should know in general what sort of
questions they will be asked, and approximately how long the
interview will last. (Note that when conducting interviews on
the radio or on television, some reporters will often not let the
interviewee know specifically what questions will be asked. The
purpose in this subterfuge is to catch the interviewees off guard,
and perhaps make them slip and reveal more than intended. It
makes for good ratings and a dramatic presentation during a
live-interview, but that sort of trick is not appropriate for a
scholarly interview; our purpose isn't to impress the audience
with chicanery).
3. Arrange a time to meet, a time to call them on the phone, or a

8. date for an e-mail exchange. If you meet face-to-face, pick a
fairly public location, but one with few distractions. Let them
know how long you expect the interview to take. Many
interviewees will feel most comfortable if you interview them at
their offices, i.e., on their "home-turf" where they are
psychologically at ease.
4. Ask to obtain permission in writing to quote the respondents,
to cut-and-paste e-mail responses they write, or to use a tape-
recorder during the session if you will be doing any of these
activities. You can type up and e-mail a form for them to sign,
or bring it with you to the interview for their signature. I
include an example below:
Example Forms for Interview Permission, followed by Audio
Waiver:
"I [respondent's name] hereby give my permission for [student's
name] to interview me and quote my responses in a scholarly
research paper. I understand that this research paper will be
submitted to a professor at California State University, Chico. I
understand that I waive any claim to copyright to this material
should the student ever publish it in a scholarly journal or in
electronic format online. I understand that the author [will / will
not] maintain my anonymity as a part of this interview. I hereby
give my permission in the form of my signature below."
Signature______________________
Date___________________________
I hereby grant full permission to (student) _______________ to
audio record our interview for the academic paper she/he is
writing for the English 130 class at Chico State. This recording
is for informational purposes only, with the understanding that
the audio files will not be distributed.
Interviewee’s Name and
Signature:____________________________________________

9. ____________________
Student’s Name and
Signature:____________________________________________
____
Date: ______________________________________
5. Ask if the interviewee has any questions to ask before you
begin.
WHEN PREPARING THE INTERVIEW
1. Plan to wear appropriate apparel for the interview. Dress a bit
more formally than normal so the interviewee will treat you
seriously and respectfully, rather than dismiss you as some punk
college student who is barging into her life, demanding an
interview.
2. Prepare a list of questions in advance. Decide if you want an
informal, chatty interview (which often puts interviewees at
ease), or a more formal, structured interview (which often is
more time-efficient and covers material more completely).
3. Since relying on one's memory is haphazard, be prepared to
record responses in some way. Take a notebook for jotting down
answers, or bring along a partner to take notes. Even better,
bring along a tape recorder and ask permission for the interview
to be recorded.
WHEN YOU FIRST MEET THE INTERVIEWEES:
1. Explain any issues of confidentiality. Explain who will get
access to their answers and how their answers will be analyzed.
Do note that it is often difficult to promise absolute
confidentiality. Court orders may supersede their request for
anonymity if you are interviewing someone who has engaged in
illegal activities (something one should only do with caution--if
at all. Professional reporters are paid good money interview

10. dangerous individuals, and they have the staff of their
publication to help ensure their safety. College students aren't
and don't).
2. If these comments are to be used as quotes, get written
permission to do so.
3. Explain the format of the interview. Explain the type of
interview you are conducting, its purpose, and its nature.
4. Explain how to get in touch with you later if necessary.
WHEN ASKING QUESTIONS:
1. Ask only one question at a time. Don't jumble the response
by trying to combine multiple questions at once.
2. Attempt to remain as neutral as possible. Often researchers
suggest that the interviewer should not show any strong
emotional reactions to their responses to avoid altering the
responses. One researcher, Patton, suggests acting as if "you've
heard it all before."
3. Encourage and elicit responses with non-committal body
language, such as nodding, or murmuring "uh huh," and so on.
Don't suddenly jump up to take notes, or it may seem that you
are unusually surprised about an answer, which may influence
the subject's response to the next few questions.
4. Don't let the respondent stray to another topic, but steer them
back to the topic at hand with your questions.
5. Phrase your questions in such a way as to ensure an open-
ended response. Don't put words in the interviewees' mouths,
but let them choose their own vocabulary and phrasing when
responding.

11. 6. Keep questions neutral in tone. Avoid judgmental wording or
evocative language. Asking someone, "What do you think the
effects will be of higher levels of acidity in the Mackenzie" is
less likely to direct a response than, "What do you think the
effects will be of callously leaking industrial waste into a
freshwater river?"
7. Word the questions clearly. Make them concise.
8. Pick pertinent inquiries. Part of this is also becoming familiar
with the vocabulary of that field or topic, so you can ask
intelligent questions.
9. Use caution when asking "why" questions. This type of
question suggests a cause-effect relationship that may not
actually exist. These questions may also invoke a defensive
response, e.g., the interviewees may feel they have to justify
their response, which may inhibit their responses to future
questions.
OTHER TIPS:
1. Begin the interview with simple, factual questions that the
interviewee can easily answer. This will help put the
interviewee at ease, and make her more talkative for later, more
complicated questions.
2. A good way to start is to ask about the interviewee's
qualifications or knowledge. For example, "How long have you
studied or worked on X?" "What first made you interested in
X?" These questions, called ice-breakers, help establish a
rapport with the subject.
3. After easing into the interview with simple questions, you
can seek information about personal opinions or about more
controversial issues.

12. 4. Ask questions about the present before moving into questions
about past events or future events. People have an easier time
talking about what is taking place currently than they do
recalling the past or speculating about the future.
5. The last question should be an invitation for the interviewee
to add any final points or comments of his own.
6. If you are using a tape-recorder, check to see that it is
working over the course of the interview.
AFTER YOU ARE DONE:
1. Go over your notes and make sure you can read your writing
while it is still fresh in your memory.
2. Send a thank-you card or letter expressing your gratitude to
the individuals interviewed.
3. Include an entry for the interview in your Works Cited page
of your final essay.
Congratulations. You have engaged in first-hand research, and
found information that may never have been recorded before in
any publication. You are one step closer to becoming an
authoritative writer on this topic. Other writers may end up
quoting you and your publications on this matter.
Research Essay #2: Interview Questions, First Draft:
Turn in to your teacher the following information:
A list of a fifteen or more solid, open-ended questions for the
interview, as discussed in class.
Research Essay #2: Interview Questions, Final Draft:
Turn in to your teacher the following information:

13. 1. Name of the person interviewed
2. Date scheduled for interview
3. A brief explanation of why the interviewee seems like a
pertinent source (i.e., what qualifications, knowledge, or
experience does he or she have regarding your topic).
4. A list of a fifteen or more solid questions for the interview.
Interview Questions
Write 15 or more open-ended questions of substance for your
American subculture inquiry project paper. Make sure to
include the name of your subculture in the title. Specify
whether these questions are for:
1) a current or former member of the subculture
2) someone who has published scholarly writings on this group
3) someone who has worked professionally with the group
Remember what we discussed in class:
No yes/no questions.
No questions that start with "Why."
Do include:
Questions that will inspire thoughtful and detailed answers.
Questions that will not offend the party being interviewed.