You’re conducting research and need to interview people. What are the most important questions to ask?

1 Define your purpose

Before you start interviewing anyone, you need to have a clear idea of why you are doing it and what you want to learn from it. Your purpose will guide your choice of interviewees, the type and number of questions, and the format and duration of the interview. For example, if you are exploring a new topic, you might want to ask open-ended questions to a diverse and representative sample of people. If you are testing a hypothesis, you might want to ask more specific and structured questions to a smaller and more targeted group of people.

2 Prepare your questions

Once you have defined your purpose, you need to prepare your questions carefully. You want to ask questions that are relevant, clear, unbiased, and respectful. You also want to avoid questions that are leading, confusing, double-barreled, or loaded. A good way to prepare your questions is to use the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This will help you focus on the key aspects of your research question and avoid unnecessary or vague details.

3 Choose your format

Another important decision you need to make is how you will conduct your interview. You can choose from different formats, such as face-to-face, phone, video, or online. Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your research context, budget, and availability. For example, face-to-face interviews can provide more rapport and non-verbal cues, but they can also be more costly and time-consuming. Online interviews can be more convenient and accessible, but they can also pose technical and ethical challenges.

4 Set the tone

When you are ready to conduct your interview, you need to set the tone for a positive and productive conversation. You want to establish rapport and trust with your interviewee, as well as explain the purpose and process of the interview. You can do this by introducing yourself, thanking them for their time, informing them of the consent and confidentiality issues, and giving them an overview of the topics and duration of the interview. You can also ask them if they have any questions or concerns before you start.