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Interview Questions

Before deciding what questions you will ask, think about your objective. What do you want to learn from the interview? It may be necessary for you to do some research before you prepare your questions.

Avoid using close-ended questions that require only short "yes" or "no" answers. Use open-ended questions that encourage personal commentary, such as, "Tell me what you remember about going to school."

TIP: Put each question on an index card and then organize and number the cards to use during the interview.

Equipment

The equipment you use will also depend upon your objective. What do you plan to do with the information you gather? You can take notes in a notebook or record the interview on audio or video tape.

Test your equipment and practice using it before you go to the interview. Use an equipment checklist when gathering and packing up your supplies.

TIP: Remove the plastic wrappings from the tapes and label the tapes ahead of time to minimize interuptions during the interview.

On to Step 3 - Conducting the Interview »