1. Interviewing
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A conversation with a purpose!
How to conduct an interview is the tricky part
Some describe it as an art rather than a skill
While others believe it can be learned with
practice
Truth to both…

2. Dramaturgy and Interviewing
• Dramaturgy, as a theoretical perspective,
involves the elements and language of theater
“even in research, the line between performer and audience
sometimes blurs, and the whole process becomes a dramatic
performance” – Denzin (2006)

3. Types of Interviewing
1) standardized interview
2) Semistandardized interview
3) Unstandardized interview
Ways to conduct an interview…
1) Face-to-face
2) telephone interview
3) Computer assisted interviewing

4. Standardized Interview
Semistandardized
Interview
Unstandardized Interview
• Most formally structured
• No deviations from
question order
• Wording of each
question asked exactly
as written
• No adjusting of level of
language
• No clarification or
answering of questions
about the interview
• No additional question
may be added
• Similar in format to a
pencil and paper survey
• More or less structured
• Questions may be
reordered during the
interview
• Wording of questions
flexible
• Level of language may
be adjusted
• Interviewer may answer
question and make
clarifications
• Interviewer may add or
delete probes to
interview between
subsequent subjects
• Completely unstructured
• No set order to any
questions
• No set wording to any
questions
• Level of language may
be adjusted
• Interviewer may answer
questions and make
clarification
• Interviewer may add or
delete question between
interviews

5. Interview Schedule
• Typically an interview is chosen over
questionnaire when the research requires
follow up.
• What someone ate as opposed to how they
make food choices
• When determining what type of interview
format, you must consider the kinds of
question you want to ask AND the type of
answers you expect to receive.

6. Schedule development
• Start with a sort of outline, listing broad
categories that are relevant to study
• Then REFINE by determining:
-question order
-essential questions
-extra questions
-throw away questions
-probing questions
-wording of questions

7. Problem questions
• Affectively worded questions – arouse negative
connotation, i.e. Why?
-neutralize the question
• Double Barreled questions – asks responders to
answer 2 question in 1.
• Complex questions
-keep questions brief
• Question sequence
- start easy to develop rapport

8. Length
Common researchers misconceptions:
-participants will not want to partake in
interviews that last several hours
Or conversely
-short interviews will not provide valuable
information

9. Interviewer as an Actor
• Perform your lines, routines, and movements
appropriately
• Must be aware of what the other actor
(interviewee) is doing
• Listen carefully to line cues in order to not
step on the lines of the interviewee
• Remain nonjudgmental

10. Interviewer as director
• Be conscious of how you perform lines and
move
• Must reflect on each segment as if you ere
outside the performance
• Must assess the adequacy of your
performance
• May include demonstrating both verbally and
visually that you are empathic

11. Interviewer as choreographer
• Choreograph your own movements and
gestures
• Script your own responses

12. The interviewer’s repertoire
• Interviewer may adjust throughout, switching
from role to role
• Interviewers rarely improvise
• A new technique should not be tried in a real
interview
• Not that an interviewer can’t pursue unexpected
leads or responses, but that the interviewer
should be armed with a series of questions that
fit virtually any topic
-”who with” “where” “how come” “how often”

13. Persuading a subject
• Novice interviewers often make the mistake of
thinking a subject win not discuss certain topics
• Often if a subject agrees to an interview, they are
willing to share more than you would expect
• A novice interviewer will often get shaken or
rattled if a subject resists or is skeptical to a line
of questioning
• Need to develop an interview repertoire
– Role play with an experienced interviewer
– Practice in front of competent critics

14. Techniques to get new researcher’s started
• Uncomfortable silences – a technique to consciously
create long, silent pauses
– Allows subject to reflect and associate and then break the
silence themselves with appropriate info
– Should last about 45 seconds.
• Echoing – tendency for interviewer to communicate
that they understand
- “I know what you mean”, “I understand”
• Letting People Talk – not step on the interviewee's
lines
- adjust pace with the interviewee’s pace

15. 10 commandments
1) Never begin an interview cold
2) Remember your purpose
3) Present a natural front
4) Demonstrate aware hearing
5) Think about appearances
6) Interview in a comfortable place
7) Don’t be satisfied with monsyllabic answers
8) Be respectful
9) Practice, practice, and practice some more
10) Be cordial and appreciative