Formulating Questions
- Factual Questions: Focus on bare facts (Who, What, When, Where, Why). This information also comprises the bulk of your interview metadata (see "Metadata" tab in the Accessibility and Public Sharing section of this guide.)
- Example: "When did you first move to Cache Valley?"
- Reflective Questions: Move beyond facts to explore meaning and significance.
Example: "How did moving to Cache Valley shape your sense of identity?" - Exploratory Questions: Foster open-ended, reflective dialogue.
Example: "You mentioned the sense of community here. Could you share more about what community means to you, especially in Cache Valley?" - Tip: Start with factual questions to establish context, then transition into reflective and exploratory ones for deeper insights. Spend most of your time in the exploratory zone.
Active Listening
- Why It Matters: Builds rapport, encourages detailed responses, and fosters trust.
- Techniques:
- Maintain eye contact and use affirming gestures (nodding, verbal acknowledgments).
- Embrace pauses to give interviewees time to reflect and elaborate.
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Avoid interruptions unless clarification is needed. Cross-talk can make transcription more challenging, so limiting interruptions is not only important for building rapport and active listening but also a practical strategy to ensure easier transcription.
Follow-Up Prompts
- Purpose: Encourage interviewees to expand on their initial responses.
- Examples:
- "Could you tell me more about that?"
- "What happened next?"
- "How did that make you feel?"
- Tip: Use the interviewee’s language in your follow-up questions to demonstrate active engagement. Encouraging them to describe experiences using sensory details and emotions is an effective way to prompt deeper elaboration.
Handling Sensitive Topics
- Guidelines:
- Approach sensitive subjects with care and empathy.
- Frame questions in a nonjudgmental and open-ended manner.
- Respect the interviewee’s boundaries; offer breaks if needed.
- Example: "If you’re comfortable sharing, could you talk about how that experience affected you?"
Adapting to the Conversation
- Flexibility is Key: Allow the interviewee to guide the direction when unexpected or meaningful topics arise.
- Strategies:
- Let go of the script if the interviewee's narrative takes a compelling turn.
- Gently steer back to the main themes if the conversation strays too far.
The Power of Silence
- Why Silence Matters: It can prompt the interviewee to continue speaking and offer unplanned insights.
- How to Use It: After asking a question, wait before jumping in with another. Allow moments of reflection.
- Tip: Practice "sitting with" silence as a way to "hold space" for your interviewee. This means creating a safe and open environment where they feel supported to share their thoughts without pressure. In fields like psychotherapy and counseling, holding space is recognized as a powerful tool for empathy, allowing individuals to process and articulate their experiences. While interviews are not therapy, this approach fosters trust and depth in the conversation. Remember, 2-3 seconds of silence may feel longer than it is—stay patient, present, and attentive to what may emerge.
