Page 221 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

188 Part 3 Putting Theory Into Practice

research. Thus, an interview should be conducted only after going in person or
online to the library and searching the Internet.
Finding potential interviewees on most topics is not diffi cult. On the topic
of global warming, try to arrange an interview with a professor of meteorol-
ogy. At a university, most departments have experts on various topics. Often a
call to the department asking if there is anyone familiar with your specifi c topic
will elicit a name. In other cases, simply consult a department’s course offer-
ings. Someone who teaches a class on Middle Eastern studies, for example, most
likely is an expert in that subject.
Another strategy is to contact organizations related to the topic and ask if
someone there would be available to interview. For example, if we were re-
searching the effects of secondhand smoke, the American Lung Association is a
likely source of potential interviewees.
Sometimes we already know people who can help. We recall the case of one
student who was speaking about a “miracle” weight-loss product. After calling
the company’s home offi ce and getting the runaround, she contacted her local
pharmacist. He informed her that the ingredients in the product were in no way
capable of helping a person lose weight—in fact, they were potentially harmful.
A brief interview with the pharmacist gave her information she would have had
great diffi culty fi nding on her own.
Once we have decided on a person to interview, we recommend the following
basic guidelines for before, during, and after the interview.

Before the Interview

• Contact the potential interviewee well in advance. Explain the reason for
the meeting and how much time it will take. If the person agrees to be
interviewed, ask for a convenient time and place for a meeting (usually at
the interviewee’s place of business). If possible, confi rm the appointment in
writing.
• Do some general reading on the topic. Read at least a book or two and
some recent articles, or visit relevant Web sites. This will provide a basis for
framing questions and focusing on those things that cannot easily be found
elsewhere.
• Prepare specifi c questions in advance. Ask open-ended questions, which
will allow the interviewee an opportunity to talk at some length. Of course,
be prepared to deviate from the planned questions as answers suggest other
avenues to follow.

During the Interview
• Show up on time, dressed professionally, and ready to begin. Thank the
person and explain how the interview will be used. Be sure to ask for
permission to record the interview if this is desired. If an interview is by
phone, there is a legal obligation to inform and gain consent from the other
party to record the conversation.
• Using previous research as a guide, begin with general questions and then
move to specifi c ones. Be sure to let the interviewee talk. Don’t monopolize
the conversation; doing so defeats the purpose of the interview.