Writing an interview research paper requires planning, preparation, and follow-through. This type of paper relies on primary source information gathered through interviews to explore and analyze a research topic. The interview process serves as field research that supplements secondary sources like scholarly books and journal articles. Through conducting interviews, an original perspective and insight on the research topic can emerge.
The interview research paper has the same core elements as other research papers – an introduction, body paragraphs with analysis, and a conclusion. The research and sourcing comes directly from interview transcripts or notes rather than solely published work. This process requires more hands-on research versus solely library research.
Planning the Paper
The first step is to determine a suitable research topic that lends itself to oral history interviews. Choosing a topic with multiple potential interview subjects will provide more data for analysis. Develop an outline for the paper’s structure before beginning interviews. draft guiding research questions to stay focused during interviews.
Examples of potential research paper topics suitable for interviews include:
Local history of a community told through resident experiences
Exploring a social issue or movement through participant perspectives
Analyzing changes in a industry through executive perspectives over time
Prepare for Interviews
With the topic and outline established, find potential interview subjects. Research their background and relevance to the topic. Contact them to request a voluntary interview. Develop an informed consent form for interviewees to sign agreeing to the use of the interviews for research and publishing anonymously.
Prepare a list of 10-15 open-ended questions to guide the interview while allowing for follow-up questions. Test the questions on a practice interviewee first. Consider how to record the interviews – through notes, audio recording, or video depending on the subject’s consent. Inform the interviewee how the data will be collected and used.
Conducting Interviews
When conducting interviews, create a comfortable environment and build rapport with the subject. Provide an overview of the research topic and paper without sharing exact questions. Record basic background data before launching into questions. Take thorough notes or utilize the recording for maximum data collection.
Allow the subject to discuss topics freely while gently guiding back to the research questions. Ask follow-up questions for elaboration and to dig deeper. Express appreciation for the subject’s time and participation. Obtain permission to follow-up if needed. After transcribing or thoroughly reviewing interview notes, analyze emerging themes.
Analyzing the Data
With multiple interviews complete or notes compiled, analyze the data for common themes, insights, support and deviation from published research. Categorize quotes and perspective under relevant themes. Cross-reference perspectives from various subjects highlighting agreement and divergence of experiences related to the research questions.
Crafting the Paper
Now it’s time to draft the paper. Follow a standard format with an engaging introduction framing the research topic and questions. Incorporate relevant background research as context for non-experts. Weave quotes and paraphrased perspectives from interviews into body paragraphs to directly support the analysis.
Body paragraphs should focus on several key themes emerging from the interviews, exploring them each in-depth. Include footnotes crediting direct quotes and perspectives to the appropriate subject. The conclusion section summarizes the findings, refers back to the original questions, acknowledges limitations of the research methodology and interviews, and proposes areas for further exploration.
Proofread for clarity, cohesion, tone, citation format and grammatical errors. Upon approval from peers and faculty, submit the finished interview research paper sharing new perspectives directly from those with lived experience regarding the topic explored. This primary research offers valuable insight beyond what can be found strictly in published materials.
Additional Tips:
Schedule interviews months in advance to allow flexibility
Prepare backup questions if an interview runs short
Provide interview transcripts for subject review and follow-up
Consider interviewing 3-5 subjects for sufficient data
Thank-you notes and a summary of findings respects subjects’ time
This covers the essential stages for researching, planning, conducting and analyzing interviews to incorporate in an academic interview research paper. With diligent preparation and follow-through, interviews provide an engaging perspective through which to analyze a research topic beyond secondary sources alone.