Formatting Questions: some suggestions

Try to avoid

· over complicated or double barrelled questions
These can be confusing or obscure a relatively simple point. Try to rephrase them in more direct terms.

· leading questions
These contain suggestions for the answer in the question and cann affects and limit your interviewee’s response. They may also impose your ideas on the interviewee and so again affect their answer.
e.g. Why didn’t you vote before that? Didn’t you think it was important?
When you first arrived, presumably you didn’t find any churches of your denomination?

· confrontational questions
These are rarely productive and are usually inappropriate in an interview. Think about approaching the same topic in a less confrontational format.

· too much jargon
This can confuse your interviewee or make them feel uncomfortable, find an alternative word or phrase.

Use a mixture of questions including

· open ended
These are questions which ask your interviewee to anser in more than a simple yes or no. Think about the different replies you would get to the following questions:
Was June Smith a good boss?
What did you think about June Smith as a boss?
Try to use questions which begin with phrases like why, how, what, where, as they allow your interviewee to give a longer and more detailed answer.

· closed or direct
While all your questions should not be closed, closed or direct questions can help you ascertain certain facts or details.
e.g.
Do you remember your first wage?
When did you come to Wolverhampton?

· follow up
Some answers may open up new areas you want to ask questions about, or you may want to know more about certain issues, so follow up previous questions to learn more.
e.g.
You mentioned your first house was in King Street; what was it like?

· evaluative
These allow the interviewee to reflect on issues in more depth and so can produce some wonderful thoughts and insights.
e.g.
What did you think about that?
How did that make you feel?