Interviews

Check off  each of the following once you have addressed it in full. Cross out or delete any that do not apply. Address any aspects that require more work.

Before the interview(s)
■	Decide on an interview method (pages
184–6).
■	Organise any audio-visual equipment.
■	Organise the venue if needed.
■	Decide criteria for selecting interviewees.
■	Prepare my explanation of the research
for interviewees (see page 158).
■	Consider answers to questions that
potential interviewees might have.
■	Prepare consent materials for interviewees.
■	Locate appropriate interviewees.
■	Contact appropriate interviewees to talk
through the process; address concerns.
■	If using equipment, check that potential
interviewees are comfortable using it.
■	Select potential interviewees, and good back-ups in case any fall through.
■	Gain the consent or agreement of a
suitable number of relevant interviewees.
■	Store consents carefully.
■	Organise times and locations suitable to
both parties.
■	Provide maps/directions to venues.
■	Send written reminders of the details,
especially the date, time and venue.
■	If interviewing at a distance, such
as through Teams or Zoom, ensure interviewees have the right connections and equipment.
■	Provide easy directions on how to use
the equipment.
■	Assume that interviewees may wish to end interviews early – plan accordingly.

The day of the interview
Plan in advance your strategy for dealing with the
following points.
■	Have identification with you, to prove you
are who you say you are.
■	Contact the interviewee to ensure that they are expecting you/haven’t forgotten the day, time or location.
■	Settle the interviewee if they are anxious.
Provide a brief reminder of the research
and/or of ground covered so far.
■	Start with warm-up questions that will be
easy and interesting to answer.
■	Move to the most essential questions as early as possible, so that you don’t run out of time.
■	Don’t introduce delicate or controversial
subjects too early.

After the interviews
■	Note down your immediate thoughts and observations, before you forget them.
■	Label and store notes/recordings carefully.
■	Work through the interview while it is still fresh in your memory: this may help you to
make sense of parts that are hard to hear or
read.
■	If relevant, make a transcript of recorded
interviews, or selected sections.
■	Decide whether to transcribe pauses and non-verbal communication, and how you will do this consistently.
■	Arrange for the interviewee to sign off the
record or transcript as a true account.