Assignment: Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project—The Interview Guide

DDBA 8303 Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project
Interview Guide Template

What one or two major concepts, ideas, phenomena (potentially related to the effective practice of management, leadership, or other organizational phenomena/problem) would you like to learn about from this interview? That is, what is the primary research phenomenon/problem that you are studying?

Reminder: This Assignment is built on the assumption that you will conduct a 15- to 20-minute interview with each interviewee you identified, so you need to focus, focus, and focus, as 20 minutes will pass extremely quickly!

PRIMARY BUSINESS RESEARCH PHENOMENON UNDER STUDY AND OVERARCHING RESEARCH QUESTION:

[Insert primary research topic and question here.]

PRIMARY RESEARCH GOALS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE (LEARN) FROM THE INTERVIEW

[Insert primary research goal(s) here....

Example: The purpose of this interview is to explore....]

Begin your interview by establishing a context and by exploring credentials and backgrounds of your interviewee as they relate to the topic under study. This should take less than 5 minutes.

INITIAL PROBE QUESTIONS: (Context, credentials/background, interest and knowledge of topics)

[Insert initial probe questions here.]

A second set of questions should focus more specifically on the topic at hand and should relate back to your primary learning objectives and research questions/phenomenon. These questions can and should relate to “what, who, and how.” This should take up to 10 minutes.

TARGETED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS - (link these to what you intend to learn about the topic)

[Insert targeted concept questions here.]

As you interview, you may find that opportunities arise for follow-up questions. At this point, it is very useful to explore “why” types of questions as well. Try to prepare and anticipate such follow-up questions, but use this template during the interview to take notes as you think of interesting follow-up questions.

TARGETED FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

[Insert targeted follow-up questions here.]

Finally, as time permits, try for a wrap-up question.

TARGETED WRAP-UP QUESTIONS

[Insert wrap-up question here.]

Remember, you are targeting a 20-minute interview with each interviewee, and if you get more than 20 minutes of information, you’ll only transcribe 20 minutes.

Now, go to the interviews, have fun, observe both verbal and non-verbal cues, be alert and flexible, and work with what your interviewees are providing. Don’t ask leading questions, and be sure to record the interviews and take notes.