The Art of the InterviewUsing Interviewing as an Instructional Method

By Pam Jackson

Types of Interviews• Structured

▫Pre-established questions, asked in specific order▫Strict guidelines for interviewer

• Unstructured▫Spontaneous flow of questions▫Questions are not pre-established

• Semi-Structured▫Combination of the Structured & Unstructured▫List of questions/any order/wording flexible

When to use the Interview Strategy

•To begin the information gathering process

•To gain in-depth knowledge of someone else’s perspective/experience

•To follow up on previous interview/poll/survey

Examples of Where Interviewing is Used

• Classroom • Research/Lab• Medical Settings• News & Entertainment/Media• Legal System/Courtroom• Politicians/Polls• Historians/Family History• Human Resources/Hiring Process

Interview Formats

•Face to Face – Most Personal

•Skype/Video Chat – Next best thing to being there

•Phone – Efficient, no travel time

•Email – Least personal/least efficient

Interview Process/Tips

•Research your subject•Be Prepared•Have questions ready•Have recorder/backup•Be Yourself•Listen!!!•Get information right•Focus on information you need/want

Some Pros of Interviewing

• Provides opportunity for interaction between student and subject

• Information gained cannot always be found in a textbook

• Provides practice with speaking & listening skills

• Excellent pre-writing tool• Infuses meaning into writing• Allows students to make connections to their

own lives

Some Cons to Interviewing• Process is Time Consuming

▫ Set up Interview▫ Research Subject/Prepare Questions▫ Conduct the Interview▫ Transcribe/Edit▫ Analyze data

• Student▫ might not be interested in subject▫ may be uncomfortable talking with others

Interview Subject may not be forthcoming may try to control interview

Bibliography

• Vanderbilt University Assessment Website. Retrieved from http://virg.vanderbilt.edu/AssessmentPlans/methods/Interviews

• Davenport, Pam, April 1983, NCTE English Journal, Vol. 72, No. 4, Interviewing: A Teaching Technique I’ve Looked at from Both Sides Now. Retrieved from http://www.ncte.org/journals/ej/issues/v72-4

• Lipton, James, Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo Television. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHv4rfuT1AA

• Stibbe, Matthew, Bad Language, How to interview someone. Retrieved from http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-interview-someone

List of James Lipton’s Questions

1. What is your favorite word?2. What is your least favorite word?3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or

emotionally?4. What turns you off?5. What is your favorite curse word?6. What sound or noise do you love?7. What sound or noise do you hate?8. What profession other than your own would

you like to attempt?9. What profession would you not like to do?10.If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear

God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?