Closed Questions: Reply is either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
- “Are you in favour of free speech?”
Multiple-choice Questions: The reply is induced.
- “Are you in favour of the death penalty, or of life imprisonment?”
Semi-open Questions: Replies are short and precise.
- These questions in general start with ‘How many?’ , ‘Who?’ , ‘When?’ and ‘Where?’
Open Questions: Detailed replies, open to explanation and justification, etc.
- “What do you think about free speech?”
Provoking Question: Replies open door for further discussion.
- “Did you call TV programmes “talking wallpaper”?
Think through the strategy of your questions
Start with a question that is more or less innocuous as a sort of ‘warm-up’ and to put your interviewee at ease. On the other hand you can also throw yourself right in with a difficult one, if you want to knock your interviewee off balance or create an atmosphere of controversy.
Alternate between open and less open questions to re-focus you interviewee on the subject or let him or her a little more freedom. If they are rambling, ask closed questions that demand precise answers. If you want them to open up a bit, ask broader questions to let relax them.
Use the “sum up” if your interviewee is trying to dodge answering an important point, re-formulating it as a question “So what you’re saying is…” More often than not, he or she will return to what they were trying to avoid!
Structure your questions, with the most interesting at the start. Then, if you’re running out of time, you will have got in the most important ones. This is the same principle as the “inverted pyramid” of news writing.
Do’s and Don’ts for Delivering Your Message:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Be yourself. Be natural | Don’t look at the monitor during the interview. |
| Maintain your composure at all times. | Don’t use any high-tech language or industry jargon. Speak in lay terms |
| Seat yourself comfortably. | Never say “no comment.” (It sounds as if you have something to hide.) |
| Check your appearance beforehand, if possible. | Avoid saying anything you may regret. Don’t answer personal questions or divulge confidential material. Instead provide the interviewer with an explanation: “That information is confidential and I’m not a liberty to discuss it at this time.” |
| Adjust and test any equipment before the program begins. | Don’t get into an argument. Never become defensive or angry. |
| If you are speaking into a microphone, maintain a distance of at least six inches. | Don’t speak for someone who isn’t present. |
| Assume that you will be on the air for each and every second of the program. (Don’t make a gesture or say something you don’t want broadcast.) | Don’t let any misleading statements trap you. Make your disagreement or uncertainty known immediately. |
| Assume that anything you say to the reporter could be brought into the interview, even if it’s a casual remark made during a pre-taping chat. | Don’t assume that any statistics are going to be correct. If you are uncertain, answer accordingly, “That may or may not be true. I’d like to see a copy of that report.” |
| Keep the real, at-home audience in mind. Direct your remarks to them | Never offer any information “off the record” or “just between you and me.” Don’t say anything you don’t want on the evening news. |
| Speak only as a representative for your organization and not from a personal viewpoint. | |
| Try to limit your answers to about three sentences. | |
| Finish answering each question completely in the order in which they were asked. |
Qualities of an Interviewer
The interviewer has but one ultimate goal, reporting the objective truth.
The qualities and personal attributes required to be a good interviewer can usually be developed with training and practice. Four of the most important qualities and the keystone for success as an interviewer are:
- Honesty, integrity and the ability to impress upon all interviewees that you seek only the truth regarding the matter under investigation;
- The ability to establish rapport quickly and under diverse conditions;
- The ability to listen to interviewees and evaluate responses; and
- The ability to maintain self-control during interviews and not become emotionally involved in the investigation.
Interview Guidelines:
When conducting an interviewing session, follow these guidelines during the interview:
- Greet the person to be interviewed in an appropriate manner;
- Define or state the purpose of the interview;
- Establish rapport;
- Maintain control, don’t let the interviewee interview you;
- Don’t argue;
- Try to evaluate each piece of information or allegation on its own merit; interviewees may present many allegations that are patently untrue but also make an allegation that has great significance or import; investigators who stop listening will miss the latter;
- Refrain from trying to impress the interviewee unless such action is specifically used as an interviewing technique;
- Maintain strict impartiality and keep an open mind, receptive to all information regardless of its nature;
- Listen before taking action;
- Take your time, don’t hurry;
- Be a good listener;
- Accept the interviewee’s feelings;
- Ensure you understand what the speaker is trying to convey;
- Use appropriate questioning techniques
- Make perception checks to ensure you understand what the interviewee means;
- Use silence when it is appropriate to force a response;
- Do not try to solve the problem during the interview, but do mention the types of subject-matter experts (personnel specialists, counsel, etc.) that may be of assistance;
- Review your notes and information to ensure you and the interviewee agree on what was said;
- Ask what the complainant or interviewee expects or wants to happen as a result of the information provided;
- Make no promises;
- Ask if there is any other issue or information the IG should know or anything else the interviewee would like to add;
- Set up time for continuation, if necessary;
- Extend your appreciation; and
- Sum-up the interview appropriately.