Seminar 1: Asking effective questions

1
Seminar 1 Asking effective questions
conducting effective
interviews

• Session 5
• Structuring conducting interviews

2
Overview

• Structure used in information interviews
• Role-playing the interview
• How to be a good interviewer

3
Structure used in information interviews
4
Role-playing the interview

• Task 1
• Work with a partner. You will take turns to play
  the role of the
• interviewer the interviewee.
• Preparation for the interviewer
• Look at the questions you need to ask.
• Run-through the whole interview structure.
• Preparation for the interviewee
• Exchange your interview questions.
• Look at your partners questions and prepare
  answers to the questions so that you can play the
  role of the interviewee.

5
How to be a good interviewer

• 1. Be prepared. Understand the topic and prepare
  questions in advance.
• 2. Have a structure for the interview. Explain
  the structure to the Interviewee.
• 3. Sit comfortably, relax and make eye contact.
• 4. Set a moderate pace.
• 5. Focus on the interviewee. Listen carefully to
  what he/she says.
• 6. Make short comments (about 5 seconds) on the
  interviewees points.
• 7. Make comments in short open-ended statements
  or questions
• a) yes/no questions and follow-up
• b) what, how and why questions
• c) statements using a question intonation
• d) short comments or requests that will
  stimulate the interviewee
• to talk
• 8. Do not interrupt abruptly. Signal before
  commenting.
• 9. Speak slowly, clearly, and in a low calm
  pitch.
• 10. Use gestures consistent with the meaning you
  wish to convey.
• 11. Use follow-up questions, when necessary, to
  direct the interviewee to what you want to find
  out.

6
Preparation

• Please conduct your interviews by reading
• week the latest. The recording must be
• submitted to your consultant in Seminar 3
• session 1.
• Please see assessment requirements in
• Session 1 and supporting tips on the
• course web.