This document provides guidance on conducting student interviews. It discusses different types of question that can be used, including conversation starters, initial/introducing questions, nudging probes, clarification questions, clearinghouse questions, questions to go deeper into a topic, and questions to get the interviewee back on track if they veer off topic. Examples are provided for each question type. The purpose is to help students prepare for interviews by understanding effective questioning techniques.

1. Academic
Interactions 130A
Summer 2015
IECP
Zachary Shellenberger, adapted from Nikki Mattson

2. Agenda
 Conversation Starters
 Question types – interview preparation;
body language
 View interview examples
 (Not) Enough/Too (if we have time)

3. Conversation Starters – A130 A
 We must acknowledge that working in the laboratory
during practical exams is more important than
theoretical exams. Especially in industrial engineering,
students suffer from having practical exams because
they always work with machines such as create molds.
Do you think practical exams are beneficial for the
students? Why?

(Abdullah Alenezi, Industrial Engineering)

4. Conversation Starter – A130 B
 My major will focus on hacking and building my own
apps. In the last four years, we have seen on the news
about the people who hack the government system
and shut it down. As you know, I’m going to focus on
two important things in computer engineering, and
both resemble the things we see and hear in the
news. Do you think it’s important for me and my
future to learn about hacking? Will it get me in
trouble? I would love to hear your opinions.
 (Abdulmajeed Owaydhah, Computer Engineering)

5. Next: Student Interview
Questions

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.