Interview Checklist: World War II Living History Project

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Hudson Falls High School World War II Living History Project www.hfcsd.org/ww2 November, 2006 HOW TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW Interview Checklist At this point you have identified your interviewee, made phone contact to explain the project and determined where and when the interview will take place. You should have a list of fifteen preliminary questions that you may want to ask. 1. _____ Check equipment (Batteries, tape recorder, microphone). 2. _____ Test your equipment. 3. _____ List of interview questions. 4. _____ Interview release form. 5. _____ Notebook and pen to take notes during…show more content…
Have a plan of attack beginning with careful and logical organization of your fifteen questions with the toughest and most sensitive questions for last. 2. Ask open-ended questions. Establish where the interviewee was with respect to the historical period or event being examined. 3. Ask one question at a time. Be prepared to think on your feet developing follow-up questions to insure clarity (“can you explain further?”). Do not move too fast into another question and allow for the “silent question” which can lead to further response. When you get “yes” or “no” responses ask why or why not? 4. Give the interviewee enough time to think and finish her or his thought before moving on to the next question. When you get a “yes” or “no” response ask why or why not? 5. Let the interviewee answer for herself or himself without leading to an answer you expect. Remember your research and perceptions might not parallel those of the interviewee and these differences will be noted in your historical analysis at the project's end. Remember that the purpose of the interview is to find out what that person thinks, not what you…show more content…
Let the interviewee do most of the talking. Interrupt only when the interviewee appears to be going off tangent, in order to redirect the interview. This said, keep in mind tangents often lead to new opportunities. 8. Save controversial questions for the end of the interview, when the interviewee is more comfortable talking with you. 9. Make sure the release form is signed before leaving. 10. Try to transcribe and write up results and notes of the interview as soon a possible after the interview has been completed. Even in rough form, these notes will help you to capture the "sense" of what was said, as well as the actual information that was presented. 11. Be flexible! 12. Punch-out and label tapes following interview (Name of interviewee and interviewer, date, project title [WW2LHP], and number sequence for each tape [if more than one tape]). 13. Remember to maintain good eye contact and concentrated listening. Always remember that the interviewee is sharing his/her life with you. THANK THE INTERVIEWEE INTERVIEW

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