PERSONAL RESEARCH

The Research Paper

New Dimensions

SETTING UP INTERVIEWSStart looking for, and contacting, interview

candidates NOW.

The goal is to have at least 4 interviews for each side.

Seek out MANY (a plethora, a lot, numerous, scores of, far more than 8) interviews; prepare to be rejected.

INTERVIEWS

Phone or face-to-face interviews are ideal. e-mail is great for establishing contact

no more than 2 e-mail interviews are allowed as sources for your paper

PREPARING FOR & CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS

Your questions should be born out of your sub-topics and review of literature. Take each sub-topic and craft a question. Ask each interviewee this same core 6-8 questions.

This will provide continuity and allow for comparative analysis when you write your paper.

Create questions from significant or especially controversial quotations in your review of literature. You may phrase these questions something like, "Can you please comment on the following quotation..."

Your research question in itself should be an interview question -- maybe the first or last question of your interview.

CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS

If you intend to use a tape recorder during the interview, you need to ask permission of the interviewee first.

If you do not use a tape recorder, write efficiently and quickly.

You may want to read (one or two) direct quotations back to them to check for accuracy.

INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE In your request for the interview, indicate approximately how

much time the interview will take. This will show that you are aware that they are very busy and you are appreciative of their time.

Be prepared.

If your interviewee is an author you've cited, demonstrate to them that you are familiar with his/her ideas.

Be organized.

Be on time.

Say thank you. Say thank you again. Say thank you again. Shake interviewee's hand and say thank you.

INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE

Write a thoughtful thank you note!!!!!!!

Remember that you represent over 35 years of New Dimensions’ tradition!