Gathering interview data

STEP 6. Conduct the interview

Before you begin, you will need to get approval from the university's Institutional Review Board and obtain an informed consent from each participant, which explains the purpose, and potential risks or benefits of the study.  Make sure to outline what you will ask participants to do and what information you will gather. 

Explain the purpose of the interview and discuss confidentiality and anonymity before starting. Discussing these terms promotes open and honest responding. Assess how much confidentiality you can promise, and inform interviewees of any exceptions to confidentiality. For example, if an interviewee discloses details of child abuse or threats to his or her safety or the safety or others, you may be required by law to report this.  Think about possible emotional reactions from respondents and how you will handle them. [more]