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OLD HIS 4990 Senior Seminar in History

This guide will assist you with HIS 4990 Research Paper. Updated Fall 2020

Conducting Interviews

You might choose to interview someone for a primary source. Here are some things to remember when conducting an interview:

  1. After finding your interviewee, discuss the scope of your research.  Let them know you are interested in their experiences in  ________ (the Civil Rights Movement or how they viewed the Cold War, for example).
  2. Prepare 7-10 specific questions.
    • Don't assume you can conduct the interview "cold"
    • Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."
  3. Use neutral phrasing.
    • Avoid questions that already include an opinion such as, "Don't you think the Civil Rights Movement was the most important social movement of all time?"
    • Use open-ended questions which give the interviewee a chance to share their experiences such as, "Where do you see the effects of the Civil Rights Movement today?" or "What are the long term effects of the Civil Rights Movement?"
  4. Allow for additional questions
    • In addition to your 7-10 questions, write a few follow-up questions. For example, after you ask "What are the long term effects of the Civil Rights Movement?" You might follow up with, "Are those effects different than the effects you thought you hoped to see during the Civil Rights Movement?"
  5. Don't rely on your memory.
    • Record your session!
  6. Make arrangements for a possible follow-up interview.
    • While you are writing, you may think of an additional questions or need clarification.  This can often be done via email or phone.
  7. Thank your interviewee with a personal note and be sure to send them a copy of your finished paper!

Interviewing Guides