CONDUCTING INTERVIEWSPreparing for your documentary

Before You Enter the Field• Review the topical and

interview literature• Develop the purpose of your

study• Develop research questions • Design the interview• Decide how to find and select

respondents• Determine how many

respondents are needed

Ethics of Doing Interviews• Beneficence – study

must benefit participants.

• Respect for Persons - Treat individuals as capable of making decisions

• Get IRB Approval

Informed Consent• Information must be given to participants any

time data are collected from them• Creates obligations and responsibilities for the

researcher• Participant consent must be given voluntarily• Written in a manner participants can understand –

clear and accurate

Elements of Informed Consent• Identification of researcher and

organization

• Purpose of study

• Features of research process

• Expected duration

• Possible risks and benefits

• How confidentiality and anonymity assured

• Any physical or psychological harms

• If deception is used

• To whom follow-up questions can be directed

• Participation is voluntary

• Can discontinue or refuse to participate without penalty

• Indication that participant should have copy of form

Conducting the Interview• Select locations and times

comfortable and accessible for respondents

• Best done in pairs– One to interview; one to take

notes

• Establish context and frame for interview– Define situation, explain purpose,

ask about taping the interview, ask if participant has any questions

Asking Questions• Carefully construct questions to get

the information you need or to prompt discussion

• Prepare and use an interview guide• Ask relevant biographical questions

to contextualize information• Some questions should allow

respondent to tell his or her own story

• Open questions are better than closed questions

Specific Strategies for Documentaries

After the Interview• Debrief the participant– Summarize main points

and new information– Ask if participant has any

questions– Have them return a

video/image release

• Thank the participant

Recording with Phones• Light• Background Noise• Focus on the subject• Stabilization– Use two hands

• LANDSCAPE MODE!!!

Lets Try It• Work with your groups try to come up with 5

open ended questions.• Second, come up with follow up probes to

help you get more dialog for your participant.• TIME DEPENDENT: Try Recoding one