This presentation is designed to teach students techniques and etiquette for effective interviewing when conducting field research for their classes. Updating authors: Derek Laan, Steven Lee, Tori Talsma, and Karla Walther, 2007. Copyright Purdue Writing Lab, 2007.
This screen provides an overview of the major points for discussion in this presentation.
This screen emphasizes the importance of etiquette in the interviewing process. Remind students that the more polite and thoughtful they are, the more their interviewee will be willing to help them.
This point in the presentation can be a good time to stop and brainstorm possible questions with your students.
This screen provides more brainstorming material.
It’s worthwhile to remind your students here that details like pens that work and well-sharpened pencils can make the difference between a successful interview and an unsuccessful one. This screen is also a good place to discuss the ethical obligations that the interviewer has to the interviewee.
Online interviewing is becoming an increasingly common form of field research, but students must remember that they still owe it to their interviewee to ask in advance and to indicate the nature and scope of the interview. Instructors may wish to use the Purdue OWL PowerPoint presentation on email etiquette as a supplement to this presentation if they are encouraging email interviews.
Instructors should remind their students of the importance of courtesy. This screen can also afford an opportunity to comment on the importance of verification for academic research.