Interviewing Skills

The research interview

Setting the stage

Eliciting information

The Research Interview

Purpose – to elicit information from “experts” on the topic

The relationship Partnership – together produce information

useful to the project Interviewer role

Describe study and enroll participants Administer questionnaires Ensure completeness Keep questionnaires secure Data management

Research Interview Don’ts:

Provide advice, even if asked. Suggest they become involved with any group,

religious organization, form of treatment, etc. Make recommendations to nurses, physicians, or

any other clinical staff. Ask nurses, physicians, or any other clinical staff

about the patient’s progress, services they are receiving, etc.

Develop or pretend to develop friendships with subjects

Give out your home phone number or address

Research Interview Do’s:

Be respectful Exercise reasonable caution

Do not offer to take the subject somewhere in your car (or ride in theirs)

Dress professionally -- “business casual”

Wear/show identification Be aware of time constraints

Setting the Stage

Seating Avoid barriers between you and the

subject Interviewer introduction

Who you represent (wear ID) Research role

Develop rapport Polite conversation

Setting the Stage

Overview of topic - describe the purpose of the research

Ground rules – confidentiality and voluntary nature of the research partnership

Informed consent agreement Introduce the questions

Explain why the questionnaire is important Manage transitions (e.g., between introduction

and giving them the questionnaire)

Eliciting Information

Listening well encourages responses Characteristics of good listeners

Desire to be other-focused Desire to be non-defensive Desire to imagine the roles, perspectives,

or experiences of others Desire to be non-judgmental (to listen as

a “receiver”)

Eliciting Information

Communicate non-verbally that you are listening Maintain eye contact Maintain open body language Use silence to give the respondent time

to think as well as talk

Eliciting Information

Research interviewer “listening” responses Encourage honest responses from

subjects that avoid bias from attempting to “please” the interviewer Neither agree or disagree Use noncommittal words with a positive tone

of voice Interviewer responses should keep the

subject talking freely

Eliciting Information

Restate or paraphrase subject’s responses Show you are listening and understand

what is being said Show you grasp the facts Provide an opportunity to clarify any

possible misperceptions

Interviewer responsibilities

Enroll patients, describe study, conduct interview

Place questionnaires immediately into envelope

Promptly return all completed questionnaires to coordinator

Communicate regularly with coordinator regarding any problems or difficulties you may be having

Safeguard the confidentiality of all information obtained from patients

Confidentiality and consent

Ethics Safeguards Interviewer responsibilities

Ethics

Fully inform research subjects regarding: Nature of the research Voluntary participation What will/will not happen to them if they do/do

not participate Risks & benefits of participation

Provide subjects with an opportunity to decline participation

Advise them that there is no penalty for refusing to participate

Ethics

Provide subjects with written details of the nature of the study and the voluntary nature of participation

Obtain signed informed consent from all study participants

Ethics

Minimize any potential risk to study participants Exercise sensitivity in prenatal clinic and

hospital Is this an inconvenient time? Keep voices low

Recognize distress in participants resulting from discussing personal information requested in the interview

Ethics – Respond to distress –stop the interview

Remain in a professional research role Use reflective statements, (e.g., It must have

been hard for you, these past few months) Do not take a role of comforting friend or

therapist (e.g., “I’m sure it will be better in time,” or “I admire your ability to go on”)

Convey you are in touch with the respondent’s feelings but you are not overwhelmed by them

Ethics

Protect subject’s confidentiality/privacy Protect all information gathered during

interviews or survey administration Required under Federal law (Public Law 93-579

“The Privacy Act”) and University of Iowa Keep all subject names and information in the strictest

confidence Use information only for the purpose of the study Do not release information in a way that allows the

identification of individuals

Safeguards

All electronic database files are password protected

Only researchers directly involved in the project (with a ”need to know”) have access to data

Interviewer Confidentiality Responsibilities

Keep all information confidential Do not discuss any person in the study

If asked about names of individuals or information about individuals in the study, respond: “I am sorry, but that is confidential information, and I am not permitted to discuss it.”

Interviewer Confidentiality Responsibilities

Try to conduct all interviews as privately as possible to ensure responses are not overheard

Carry completed questionnaires with you, and do not leave them out where they can be read by someone else

Use professional demeanor that demonstrates your seriousness about maintaining confidentiality

Interviewer Confidentiality Responsibilities

Discuss patients only with director or

co-interviewer not with family, friends, co-workers, etc.

Clipboards Sharpened pencils Pens Consent forms Questionnaire packets Envelopes

Interview materials

Be patient Casual/comfortable personal style Use small talk to build rapport

When is your due date? Is this your first baby?

Answer questions with patience; they may be repeated

Make sure patient understands

Interviews

If they say: I am not interested.

You say: Thank you very much for coming; good luck.

If they ask: Do I have to do this?

You say: No you don’t; we would appreciate it, but you

do not have to.

Prenatal Interviews: Handling Refusals

Collect forms when complete Review quickly to ensure that all items have

responses; if not, politely re-ask the question Thank respondent Place forms into envelope

Interviews: Wrapping Up

Call 24 hours prior to appointment to: Remind mother about the

appointment Verify address

Dress professionally Establish rapport Administer questionnaire Provide incentive Thank respondent for their help