BOLEX S-221 Technical Information download pdf (Page 92)

Designing Interview Questions

Note: The following suggestions apply to the program style where the interviewer's

voice will not be included in the final edit.

1. Your Angle. This step is based on the main question you are exploring which you should have

already stated for yourself in writing. To develop your angle, start-off by defining the topic, issue,

curiosity, etc. in one descriptive statement that has key nouns and the right tone. Imagine saying the

sentence to someone who asks what you're doing. For example, "I'm making a film about the things

people think about when they walk through a neighborhood that is quite different from the one they

grew up in." It should account for who is involved, where it happens and what you are trying to learn

about. An angle should take into consideration popular preconceptions about the topic, issue or

situation into consideration and go beyond them. For the above the preconception might be: "One

takes much higher risks when walking in certain neighborhoods."

2. Opening Questions. Until the interviewee is comfortable with you and what you are asking, she

or he will prefer to speak in general impressions and opinions. You can avoid some this by giving

your first question a specific, personal context like: "There is a popular preconception that one is

taking much greater risks when walking down a street like this one. What do you think? or "My older

neighbor, Frances Wilde, says she is very afraid walk to walk down the street where we live. What

are your thoughts about an older person's safety on this block? or "I have this sense that, at times,

it could be quite dangerous for me to walk down this street. Am I right in these suspicions?" Try to

guess how people will respond to the different ways you can frame your first question. Try them on

your self and your friends. Is the question clearly worded? Is it interesting to think about? If they

find your question interesting to try to answer, its probably a good one. If you or they can give a

quick, obvious answer, more thought about actual human experiences involved will probably help.

3. Locating Influences. Often the first responses one receives are often so general and brief that

you get stumped. In this case you can always ask about specific examples to illustrate their

viewpoint or opinion etc. You have to be careful to not formulate an intimidating "why" question that

is equally difficult to answer. Practice and have ready your own personal version of a

response/question that encourages specific influences without suggesting sources like: "That's

understandable; you must have a variety of reasons for saying that. Is this an opinion you've formed

recently?" There are experiences behind all opinions-- this is what you want them to talk about.

4. Encouraging Descriptions. Useful material often surfaces when the interviewee is encouraged

to talk carefully about a specific experience in the past. Stories are the way humans combine

experience, emotion and insight to convey values without being overly-authoritarian. Interview

questions including words like, "Where," "When," "What," or "How," encourage specifics. Develop a

few open-ended questions you can adapt to the situation like, "How can you tell when...?" "What

impact did it have on you when...?" "Can you recall the place where...?" Avoid questions starting

with "Did" or "Do" at this stage in the interview because they can usually be answered with a simple,

"Yes" or "No. To prepare for these questions, imagine a life situation that an interviewee might

allude to and draft questions to draw out longer, detailed descriptions of the experience.

5. Warm-Ups. Finally, it can help to draft a few comment/questions to use while you're setting-up

your equipment or when you sense that the interviewee is nervous. Think of aspects you share like,

"This is the first time I've done an interview like this, what about you?" You can also describe

aspects of your project that they might be curious about like how long you've been working on it,

other persons you'll be talking with. Some honest thinking in advance can help you avoid an

awkward interview.

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BOLEX S-221 Technical Information Page 92

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