Interviewing Tips I Wish I Knew When I Started in Research
Interviewing Tips I Wish I Knew When I Started in Research
Interviewing Tips I Wish I Knew When I Started in Research
by Patience Heath, 5 minute read.
by Patience Heath, 5 minute read.
Overview
Overview
Overview
Interviewing can feel intimidating at first, especially as a new researcher, but the fastest way to improve is simply to start. I began with friends and family, then pushed myself to interview people I didn't know. Each conversation taught me something new about how to listen with intention, guide conversation, and learn from others.
Below are some techniques I have picked up along the way that can help you conduct better interviews.
Interviewing can feel intimidating at first, especially as a new researcher, but the fastest way to improve is simply to start. I began with friends and family, then pushed myself to interview people I didn't know. Each conversation taught me something new about how to listen with intention, guide conversation, and learn from others.
Below are some techniques I have picked up along the way that can help you conduct better interviews.
Interviewing can feel intimidating at first, especially as a new researcher, but the fastest way to improve is simply to start. I began with friends and family, then pushed myself to interview people I didn't know. Each conversation taught me something new about how to listen with intention, guide conversation, and learn from others.
Below are some techniques I have picked up along the way that can help you conduct better interviews.
1. Make the participant feel comfortable
1. Make the participant feel comfortable
1. Make the participant feel comfortable
After each interview, participants mentioned how easy and comfortable they felt. You don’t necessarily need to hear it, but it’s important that they do feel that way. The more at ease they are with you, the more honest and open they’ll be during the session.
After each interview, participants mentioned how easy and comfortable they felt. You don’t necessarily need to hear it, but it’s important that they do feel that way. The more at ease they are with you, the more honest and open they’ll be during the session.
After each interview, participants mentioned how easy and comfortable they felt. You don’t necessarily need to hear it, but it’s important that they do feel that way. The more at ease they are with you, the more honest and open they’ll be during the session.
2. Don't be afraid of participants getting off topic.
2. Don't be afraid of participants getting off topic.
2. Don't be afraid of participants getting off topic.
Depending on the time you have, allow participants to elaborate even if they go off topic. Not only do you learn more about them, but it also makes them more comfortable with you. People love talking about themselves, and when they get the chance, they’re usually more receptive to the tasks you ask them to perform. Just make sure that you can smoothly transition to being back on topic.
Depending on the time you have, allow participants to elaborate even if they go off topic. Not only do you learn more about them, but it also makes them more comfortable with you. People love talking about themselves, and when they get the chance, they’re usually more receptive to the tasks you ask them to perform. Just make sure that you can smoothly transition to being back on topic.
Depending on the time you have, allow participants to elaborate even if they go off topic. Not only do you learn more about them, but it also makes them more comfortable with you. People love talking about themselves, and when they get the chance, they’re usually more receptive to the tasks you ask them to perform. Just make sure that you can smoothly transition to being back on topic.
3. Don’t be too professional
3. Don’t be too professional
3. Don’t be too professional
When you act overly professional, participants may feel intimidated. I tried to keep every interview like a conversation, because that’s what it is. Be friendly, smile when you can, and most importantly look engaged and be engaged. Use casual language when appropriate and avoid advanced terminology. Keep things at a high-school level linguistically so participants never feel talked down to.
When you act overly professional, participants may feel intimidated. I tried to keep every interview like a conversation, because that’s what it is. Be friendly, smile when you can, and most importantly look engaged and be engaged. Use casual language when appropriate and avoid advanced terminology. Keep things at a high-school level linguistically so participants never feel talked down to.
When you act overly professional, participants may feel intimidated. I tried to keep every interview like a conversation, because that’s what it is. Be friendly, smile when you can, and most importantly look engaged and be engaged. Use casual language when appropriate and avoid advanced terminology. Keep things at a high-school level linguistically so participants never feel talked down to.
This point is for applications and studies that the target audience is young people.
This point is for applications and studies that the target audience is young people.
4. Wait for the participant to finish their thought
4. Wait for the participant to finish their thought
4. Wait for the participant to finish their thought
One mistake I made early on was not allowing silence. I was afraid it would be awkward if I stayed quiet, but once I gave space, that’s when I started getting deeper insights. My rule now is to wait 3–4 seconds after someone stops talking before moving on. Often, they’ll continue with something more meaningful. If you move on too quickly, you might miss out on valuable information. Don't ever make the participants feel like they are being rushed.
One mistake I made early on was not allowing silence. I was afraid it would be awkward if I stayed quiet, but once I gave space, that’s when I started getting deeper insights. My rule now is to wait 3–4 seconds after someone stops talking before moving on. Often, they’ll continue with something more meaningful. If you move on too quickly, you might miss out on valuable information. Don't ever make the participants feel like they are being rushed.
One mistake I made early on was not allowing silence. I was afraid it would be awkward if I stayed quiet, but once I gave space, that’s when I started getting deeper insights. My rule now is to wait 3–4 seconds after someone stops talking before moving on. Often, they’ll continue with something more meaningful. If you move on too quickly, you might miss out on valuable information. Don't ever make the participants feel like they are being rushed.
5. Have an interview guide, but let participants shape it
5. Have an interview guide, but let participants shape it
5. Have an interview guide, but let participants shape it
Even with a small budget, you can make this work if you have around 6-10 participants. I started with a rough interview guide, and after my first two interviews, I polished my questions and rearranged the order. Sometimes what seems logical in your head doesn’t flow in conversation. If possible, do a mock interview with a friend before talking to real participants. Those trial runs give you confidence in your script.
Even with a small budget, you can make this work if you have around 6-10 participants. I started with a rough interview guide, and after my first two interviews, I polished my questions and rearranged the order. Sometimes what seems logical in your head doesn’t flow in conversation. If possible, do a mock interview with a friend before talking to real participants. Those trial runs give you confidence in your script.
Even with a small budget, you can make this work if you have around 6-10 participants. I started with a rough interview guide, and after my first two interviews, I polished my questions and rearranged the order. Sometimes what seems logical in your head doesn’t flow in conversation. If possible, do a mock interview with a friend before talking to real participants. Those trial runs give you confidence in your script.
6. Don’t let participants stay on a hard task too long
6. Don’t let participants stay on a hard task too long
6. Don’t let participants stay on a hard task too long
If a participant struggles, ask one or two contextual questions and move on. Keeping them stuck makes it harder for them to stay engaged in the rest of the study. People get frustrated quickly, and that can throw off the whole session.
If a participant struggles, ask one or two contextual questions and move on. Keeping them stuck makes it harder for them to stay engaged in the rest of the study. People get frustrated quickly, and that can throw off the whole session.
If a participant struggles, ask one or two contextual questions and move on. Keeping them stuck makes it harder for them to stay engaged in the rest of the study. People get frustrated quickly, and that can throw off the whole session.
7. Pay attention to body language
7. Pay attention to body language
7. Pay attention to body language
If possible, record your interviews so you can review body language cues you might have missed. If recording isn’t an option, position yourself where you can see them clearly. Silence is a good time to observe. Sometimes a participant will say a task was easy, but their body language shows hesitation. Bring it back around and ask if they felt confused. Even if they say no, make a note of it you’ll often see patterns emerge across sessions.
If possible, record your interviews so you can review body language cues you might have missed. If recording isn’t an option, position yourself where you can see them clearly. Silence is a good time to observe. Sometimes a participant will say a task was easy, but their body language shows hesitation. Bring it back around and ask if they felt confused. Even if they say no, make a note of it you’ll often see patterns emerge across sessions.
If possible, record your interviews so you can review body language cues you might have missed. If recording isn’t an option, position yourself where you can see them clearly. Silence is a good time to observe. Sometimes a participant will say a task was easy, but their body language shows hesitation. Bring it back around and ask if they felt confused. Even if they say no, make a note of it you’ll often see patterns emerge across sessions.
8. DON'T LEAD
8. DON'T LEAD
8. DON'T LEAD
Never ask leading questions. Go into every interview with an open mind and avoid assumptions. In research, this is similar to what statisticians call p-hacking, when you start with a hypothesis and look for ways to prove it, rather than letting the data speak for itself. Having assumptions is natural, but the key is not to frame your questions in a way that confirms them. Just because five participants made the same mistake doesn’t mean the sixth will. And remember, participants may also agree with you simply to be polite. Your role is to let them arrive at their own conclusions, while you focus on uncovering why they reached them.
Never ask leading questions. Go into every interview with an open mind and avoid assumptions. In research, this is similar to what statisticians call p-hacking, when you start with a hypothesis and look for ways to prove it, rather than letting the data speak for itself. Having assumptions is natural, but the key is not to frame your questions in a way that confirms them. Just because five participants made the same mistake doesn’t mean the sixth will. And remember, participants may also agree with you simply to be polite. Your role is to let them arrive at their own conclusions, while you focus on uncovering why they reached them.
Never ask leading questions. Go into every interview with an open mind and avoid assumptions. In research, this is similar to what statisticians call p-hacking, when you start with a hypothesis and look for ways to prove it, rather than letting the data speak for itself. Having assumptions is natural, but the key is not to frame your questions in a way that confirms them. Just because five participants made the same mistake doesn’t mean the sixth will. And remember, participants may also agree with you simply to be polite. Your role is to let them arrive at their own conclusions, while you focus on uncovering why they reached them.
Final Thoughts