interview1.bmp The Improve Group has conducted interviews with a wonderful variety of people for a great variety of disciplines. Interviewees (also referred to as: discussants, informants, subjects, participants or conversational partners) add critical and valuable perspectives about programs. Like focus groups, interviews contribute to a more in-depth, comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand. So, the Improve Group calls you to participate in an interview – what exactly are you getting yourself into? What is an interview? Many of us have done an interview at one time or another. In some situations, it can be a scary and uncomfortable experience. One may consider a typical interview to be an in-person, one-on-one interaction where the interviewer rattles off a list of questions to the interviewee. While there are certainly some interviews that fit this scenario, researchers conduct interviews in many different ways and make efforts to put the interviewee at ease. At the Improve Group, we strive to make our interviewees comfortable and are sensitive to their diverse needs. Interviews can be in-person, over the telephone or even online with one person or a group of people. They can be formal and structured with a predetermined list of close-ended questions, or they can be unstructured “guided conversations” that are meant to elicit in-depth information. Cultural interviews, oral histories and life histories are examples of unstructured interviews. Interviews usually have an underlying purpose or topic they are meant to address. Sometimes the interviewee is recruited based upon prior knowledge or expertise in the area of interest, while other times an interviewee is recruited without any prior knowledge of the topic to add an outside perspective. Ultimately, interviews help researchers understand how others think or feel about a topic. Interviews should take place in a comfortable setting and although the time length varies, most do not last more than an hour and a half. What an interview isn’t. Like focus groups, interviews should not be mysterious. Anyone asking you to do an interview should be able to give you a detailed explanation of: • who is conducting the research; • what the objectives of the interview are, and • how the information you share will be used. If sensitive information is to be shared you should be given assurances of anonymity and security. Depending upon the nature of the topic a release or consent form could be offered for you to sign. In some circumstances, especially if a direct quote is cited and referenced, the interviewee will have the opportunity to read the report that includes information from their interview to verify accuracy. Interviewers should never be judgmental of the interviewee; the interviewer should respect your thoughts and opinions. What is the value to you the participant? Interviews can be an opportunity for you to talk about something that is important or of interest to you. It can be an opportunity to become involved in research on program or product improvement and to have your opinions heard and appreciated. And, sometimes you are offered an incentive to get involved, like a monetary gift, gift card or donation to a favored program or charity. As with focus groups, there is real power in getting your ideas and concerns across to a researcher that is charged with the task of planning a course of action or recommending change. Interviews are an excellent method of gathering rich, contextual information in many areas of research. Please consider the value you will contribute to a project by participating in an interview!