Formulating Interview Questions

1. Formulating Interview Questions

2. Use open-ended questions

3. Use open-ended questions • A question that allows the interview subject to formulate an in-depth answer. • NOT allow for a yes/ no answer (closed-ended)

4. Use open-ended questions • What do you think is the leading cause of the growing rate of STIs in teen girls? • Do you think a lack of sexual education is the leading cause of the growing rate of STIs in teen girls?

5. Avoid asking double-barrelled questions

6. Avoid asking double-barrelled questions • These are questions that have more than one question in the sentence.

7. Avoid asking double-barrelled questions • Do you think schools are adequately teaching sex education and teaching the proper prevention methods? • What are your opinions on the current sex education program being taught in high schools?

8. Ask unbiased questions

9. Ask unbiased questions • Avoid asking questions that are slanted towards oneopinion. • A good interview question is neutral and it allows the respondent to give his or her own take of the issue. • It should not influence the respondent’s opinion. • Your position should not be present in the questions.

10. Ask unbiased questions • Do you think that teaching sex education in high school encourages teenagers to have sex? • What are the positive and negative outcomes of teaching sex education in high school?

11. Avoid assuming questions

12. Avoid assuming questions • Assuming questions are those that already have assumed opinions for/ of the interviewees. 

13. Avoid assuming questions • How do you respond to individuals who believe teaching sex education in high school encourages adolescents to have sex? • A lot of people think that teaching sex education in high school encourages adolescents to have sex, are you one of them?

14. Keep your questions short and clear

15. Keep your questions short and clear • Write questions that are short and clear. • Correct grammar is essential too, because the slightest grammatical or punctuation mistake can change the question’s meaning. It also makes you look unprofessional. • Review your interview questions and have them checked for grammar.

16. Keep your questions short and clear • I read in an article that sometimes parents who believe in certain religions sometimes have issues with sex education being taught in school because it goes against some of their beliefs and sometimes they don’t want their children being exposed to sexuality. What do you think about that? • How do you suggest teaching sexual education toadolescents of various religious backgrounds?

17. Only ask what’s necessary

18. Only ask what’s necessary • Qualifications • Educational background • Job description (if applicable) • Questions relevant to your research **Be sure to ask if they are allowing you to quote them by name in their article and how they would like to be referred to.

19. Only ask what’s necessary • How long have you been working at this position? • What’s the most interesting thing that has happened while you have been working here?

20. Only ask what’s necessary • Based on your research you have to create questions that will elicit usable information. • Keep the questions short and about something that you need further explanation • Rounding out your material/ research • Gaining a Quebec perspective • Supporting the identified gap in the need you discovered through your research

21. You must submit: • Interview tracking sheet • Copy of cold call letter • Copy of their interview questions (in English) • Transcription of interview (English or French)