Academic Interactions

130ASummer 2015

IECP

Zachary Shellenberger, adapted from Nikki Mattson

Agenda

Conversation Starters Question types – interview

preparation; body language View interview examples (Not) Enough/Too (if we have time)

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)

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)

Next: Student Interview Questions

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?

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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?

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http://www.roguecom.com/interview/module4.html

Clarification QuestionsYou 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?

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Clearinghouse QuestionsThese 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?

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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?

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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?

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