Online Interviewing Tips for Researchers

Summary

The video discusses the transition to online qualitative interviews during the Covid-19 pandemic. Initially skeptical, the speaker was surprised to find that online interviews can yield equally or even more insightful data. The video provides practical tips for conducting successful online interviews, covering topics such as obtaining informed consent, choosing the right platform, designing effective interview guides, ensuring technical readiness, and building rapport. It also highlights the importance of adapting to the unique challenges of the virtual environment to create a comfortable and productive experience for interviewees.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Covid-19 pandemic has made online interviews a necessity, and they can yield rich and sometimes superior data compared to face-to-face interviews.
• 🤔 Initial skepticism about the quality of online interviews is common, but many find them to be just as effective, if not more so, for gathering data.
• 📝 The importance of getting informed consent cannot be overstated; it's crucial to explain how personal data will be handled before the interview.
• 📆 Practical aspects such as signed consent forms and time zone awareness are essential for the smooth running of online interviews.
• 🗒️ Having a well-designed interview guide with open-ended questions encourages interviewees to share their experiences freely and openly.
• 💻 Technical preparation is key: ensure the latest software versions are downloaded and test all equipment to avoid interruptions during the interview.
• 🎥 Setting the scene for the interview is important; a clean backdrop and good lighting can improve the quality of the interaction.
• 🎧 Sound quality matters; using a simple setup can help maintain confidentiality and ensure clear communication.
• 🔗 Building rapport quickly in an online setting is challenging but necessary for a successful interview; starting with casual conversation can help.
• 👀 Maintaining eye contact by looking into the webcam, rather than at the screen, can help create a more personal and engaging interview.
• 🤗 Active listening and signaling interest through nodding and verbal affirmations can encourage interviewees to elaborate on their responses.
• 🔄 Embracing silence during interviews can prompt further elaboration from the interviewee and should not be feared.
• 🛠 Having backup plans for technical issues is essential; knowing how to quickly switch to alternative methods can save an interview.
• 🎨 Creativity in interviews, such as asking participants to draw, can provide a different perspective and engage interviewees in a unique way.
• 📝 Capturing immediate post-interview impressions is vital for retaining the nuances and details that may be forgotten over time.

Q & A

How did the Covid-19 pandemic influence the approach to qualitative interviews?

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards conducting qualitative interviews online, as it became necessary to adapt to social distancing measures and remote work environments.

What was the initial skepticism regarding online interviews in comparison to face-to-face interviews?

The initial skepticism was about whether online interviews could yield data that was as rich and in-depth as traditional face-to-face interviews.

Why might online interviews sometimes provide superior data?

Online interviews can sometimes provide superior data because the interviewee is in their own familiar environment, which can help them relax and be more open and honest.

What are some important steps to take before conducting an online interview?

Before an online interview, it's important to obtain informed consent, provide additional information about the project, and ensure the handling of personal data is clearly communicated.

Why is it challenging to get signed consent forms back from interviewees?

It can be challenging because interviewees are often busy and may not prioritize returning the signed forms, requiring gentle reminders from the researcher.

What platform should be used for online interviews, and are there any considerations?

The platform used for online interviews should be preferred by the interviewee and comply with any specific requirements from the researcher's institution.

How can time zone differences affect online interviews, and what can be done to manage them?

Time zone differences can lead to scheduling conflicts. Using a time zone converter ensures that the correct time for the interview is determined to avoid misunderstandings.

What构成s a useful interview guide and why is it important?

A useful interview guide consists of open-ended questions that encourage the interviewee to describe their experiences freely. It's important to ensure the guide fits within the allotted time and allows for off-topic discussion or elaboration.

What technical preparations are recommended before an online interview?

It's recommended to download the latest version of the video conferencing software, test the technology to ensure it's working, and have a plan B ready in case of technical issues.

How can the setting for an online interview impact the quality of the interaction?

The setting can impact the interaction by affecting the visual and auditory experience. A clean backdrop, good lighting, and a quiet environment can enhance the quality of the interview.

What strategies can be used to build rapport during an online interview?

Strategies to build rapport include engaging in brief chit chat, using go-to topics to ease into the conversation, and maintaining eye contact by looking into the webcam.

How can active listening be signaled during an online interview?

Active listening can be signaled through nodding, asking for more information, and validating the interviewee's responses to show interest and encourage further elaboration.

What should be done if there is silence during an online interview?

During silences, the interviewer should continue nodding and moving to show presence. Silences can also be used as prompts to encourage the interviewee to speak more or provide additional details.

How can technical hurdles during an online interview be overcome?

Technical hurdles can be overcome by having backup plans such as using a phone hotspot if Wi-Fi drops, or arranging another time to talk if the connection fails completely.

What creative methods can be used to generate rich data during an online interview?

Creative methods like asking interviewees to draw something can engage them with a material reality and spark different responses in a digital situation.

What should be done after the interview to ensure the interviewee's contribution is valued?

After the interview, it's important to thank the interviewee, remind them how their input will be used, and send a follow-up email with any final thoughts or shared materials.

Why is it important to capture the interviewer's own experience after the interview?

Capturing the interviewer's own experience helps to save impressions and first thoughts that might be forgotten soon after. These can provide a richer and more nuanced understanding of the interview.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Transitioning Skepticism to Online Interviews

The speaker begins by discussing their initial skepticism about the effectiveness of online interviews for qualitative data collection, especially in the context of their PhD research. They compare face-to-face interviews with online ones, expressing surprise at finding online interviews to yield rich and sometimes superior data. The speaker attributes this to the relaxed environment of the interviewee's own living room, which can lead to more honest and open conversations. The paragraph concludes with an introduction to the topics of preparation for online interviews, including obtaining informed consent, handling personal data, and managing practical aspects such as signed consent forms.

05:03

📝 Preparing for Online Interviews: Logistics and Platform Selection

This section delves into the practicalities of preparing for online interviews, emphasizing the importance of informed consent and the administrative challenges of ensuring participants sign and return consent forms. The speaker also discusses the selection of a video conferencing platform, taking into account the preferences of interviewees and any institutional requirements. Time zone considerations are highlighted, along with the speaker's personal strategy of using a time zone converter to avoid scheduling mishaps. The paragraph ends with a humorous anecdote about the importance of knowing the exact time for an interview.

10:05

🎥 Designing an Effective Interview Guide and Technical Checks

The speaker outlines the process of designing an interview guide that encourages open and free description of experiences through open-ended questions. They stress the importance of timing, ensuring that all questions can be addressed within the allotted time while allowing for digressions or elaboration. The speaker also emphasizes the need to check and update video conferencing software to avoid technical issues during the interview. Having a backup plan, such as recording the interview on a secondary device, is recommended to prevent data loss in case of technical failure.

15:06

🌟 Setting the Scene and Building Rapport for Online Interviews

This paragraph focuses on creating an effective interview environment within the constraints of a 2D video call. The speaker suggests minimizing background distractions and using natural light to improve webcam image quality. They discuss the importance of sound quality and the use of headphones and a dedicated microphone to ensure privacy and clarity. The speaker also shares tips on creating a quiet and private space for the interview. Building rapport is highlighted as crucial due to the lack of physical presence, with the speaker recommending engaging in small talk and establishing a one-to-one atmosphere to foster trust and open communication.

👀 Enhancing Communication and Handling Technical Difficulties

The speaker discusses strategies for maintaining effective communication during online interviews, such as making eye contact with the webcam to simulate direct interaction and using nodding and other non-verbal cues to signal active listening. They also address the challenge of handling silences, which can be interpreted as technical issues, and suggest using them as prompts for further elaboration by the interviewee. The paragraph also covers how to manage technical difficulties, such as Wi-Fi drops, by having a backup plan like a mobile hotspot or arranging an alternative time for the interview.

🎨 Creative Approaches and Reflecting on the Interview Experience

The speaker introduces creative methods to enrich the interview process, such as asking participants to draw, which can help engage with material reality in a digital setting. They also discuss the importance of capturing one's own impressions and experiences immediately after the interview to retain valuable insights that might otherwise be forgotten. The speaker advises writing down striking aspects of the interview, differences from expectations, and any circumstantial observations that could provide a richer understanding during later analysis.

📖 Final Thoughts on Online Interviewing and Closing the Session

In the final paragraph, the speaker wraps up the discussion on online interviewing tips and shares a personal anecdote about the importance of capturing initial impressions. They emphasize the value of these impressions for later analysis and understanding of the interview. The speaker also touches on the importance of thanking the interviewee and reminding them of how their input will be used. The conversation concludes with a light-hearted reference to the 'Zoom wave' and a mutual exchange of gratitude, followed by the closing of the virtual meeting.

Keywords

💡Qualitative Interviews

Qualitative interviews are in-depth conversations aimed at understanding people's experiences, beliefs, and attitudes. They are a core method in social research. In the video, the speaker discusses how the Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated a shift to online qualitative interviews, which initially seemed challenging but turned out to yield rich data.

💡Online Interviews

Online interviews refer to the practice of conducting interviews over the internet, often using video conferencing platforms. The script highlights the transition from traditional face-to-face interviews to online formats, emphasizing the surprising effectiveness of online interviews for gathering data.

💡Informed Consent

Informed consent is a process where participants in research are given information about the study and its implications, and they voluntarily agree to participate. The video script mentions the importance of obtaining informed consent before conducting online interviews, including explaining how personal data will be handled.

💡Platform

In the context of the video, a platform refers to the software or service used to conduct online interviews, such as Zoom or Skype. The speaker mentions considering interviewee preferences and institutional requirements when choosing a platform for online interviews.

💡Time Zone

Time zone awareness is crucial when scheduling interviews with participants in different geographical locations. The script describes using a time zone converter to avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure that interviews are conducted at mutually convenient times.

💡Interview Guide

An interview guide is a set of questions and prompts used to structure an interview. The video emphasizes designing an open-ended and comprehensive interview guide to encourage interviewees to share their experiences freely within the allotted time.

💡Technical Check

A technical check involves ensuring that all equipment and software are functioning correctly before starting an online interview. The script advises downloading the latest software version and having a backup plan, like a voice recorder or phone, to prevent technical issues during the interview.

💡Scene Setting

Scene setting in online interviews refers to the arrangement of the physical environment to minimize distractions and enhance communication. The video script discusses the importance of a clean backdrop and good lighting to improve the quality of the video and create a professional setting.

💡Rapport Building

Rapport building is the process of establishing a connection and trust with an interviewee. The script suggests using small talk and maintaining eye contact through the webcam to create a comfortable atmosphere for open and honest communication.

💡Active Listening

Active listening in interviews involves showing interest and engagement with the speaker's responses. The video describes nodding and asking for more details as ways to signal active listening, which encourages interviewees to elaborate on their answers.

💡Silence

In the context of the video, silence refers to the pauses in conversation that can be used strategically during interviews. The script explains that silence can prompt interviewees to continue speaking and provide more information, and it also serves as a reminder to avoid interrupting the interviewee.

💡Tech Hurdles

Tech hurdles are the technical difficulties that can occur during online interviews, such as software crashes or internet connectivity issues. The video script provides advice on overcoming these challenges, like using a phone hotspot as a backup connection.

💡Creative Engagement

Creative engagement involves using innovative methods to interact with interviewees and gather data. The script mentions the idea of having participants draw as a way to engage with them in a digital environment, which can lead to unique insights.

💡Post-Interview Reflection

Post-interview reflection is the process of capturing and recording one's thoughts and impressions immediately after an interview. The video emphasizes the importance of jotting down initial reactions and observations to retain a fresh perspective on the interview content.

Highlights

Online interviews can yield rich and sometimes superior data compared to face-to-face interviews.

Conducting interviews in a relaxed home environment can lead to more candid responses.

The importance of obtaining informed consent and handling personal data responsibly.

Challenges in receiving signed consent forms and the need for gentle reminders.

Selecting an appropriate platform for the interview with consideration for institutional requirements.

Managing time zone differences for interviews with participants in different locations.

Creating an open-ended interview guide to encourage free and detailed responses.

Ensuring technical readiness and having a backup plan for potential tech issues during the interview.

Setting the scene for the interview by minimizing background distractions and optimizing lighting.

Sound setup considerations for clear audio and maintaining confidentiality.

Building rapport quickly in a virtual setting to establish trust and encourage open dialogue.

The impact of body language and maintaining eye contact through the webcam.

Active listening techniques to show interest and encourage further elaboration by the interviewee.

Embracing silence as a tool for prompting more detailed responses and dealing with potential tech issues.

Overcoming tech hurdles with quick thinking and backup plans, such as using a phone hotspot.

Getting creative during interviews, such as asking participants to draw, to engage and generate rich data.

The importance of capturing immediate post-interview impressions to retain valuable insights.

Expressing gratitude and providing feedback to interviewees to maintain a positive relationship.

Reflecting on the entire interview process to identify what worked well and areas for improvement.

Transcripts

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to carry out qualitative interviews online.

In my PhD, I've tried both face-to-face interviews and also online interviews.

I'll say that I was one of the skeptics before transferring my methods online.  

Would I be able to get as good and rich data online?

I wasn't so sure. But I was very surprised to learn that you can

actually get equally rich and sometimes even superior data with online interviews.

I think when you interview someone who's in their own living room

who's in some cases sitting on their couch with a cat on their lap and with a cup of tea,

you get a completely different type of interview

than when you're in a meeting room somewhere in an organisation.

I think it really helps people to relax and make them more willing to talk

and to be quite honest.

So what are you going to do before, during,  and after the online interview?

Let's find out.

[retro spy theme music]

Number one: Get the details down.

As with any interview, you need informed consent.

Before setting up anything, send through additional information

where you explain your project in layman's terms.

In this consent form and information sheet, you want to lay out how you're handling

their personal data, what it's going to  be used for, and all those types of things.  

But there will be specific guidelines  for different institutions, of course.

Then there is the practical aspect of actually getting back these signed consent forms.

I will say that I've spent a surprising amount of time

gently reminding people to sign it and send it back to me.

You're like: "I'm going to email you this form. I hope you can fill it out before the interview."

They then never do, because they're always too busy.  

So during the interview, you say: "Can you please fill out the form still?  

because otherwise I can't use this data."

And then they say: "Oh, yeah, I will." 

Then afterwards, they don't email you again, and you have to send them another email going:

"So - great that I could interview you, but can you please sign this form still?"

So the admin can be a bit  of a drag, I think.

What type of platform are you going to use?

I usually ask my interviewees what they prefer.  

However, there might also be specific requirements from your institution.

So it might be worth looking into what you are actually allowed to use.

If you're talking to someone in a different time zone,

it's very important to be aware of the time difference.

I like to use a time zone converter to make sure that I know exactly

the right time that I'll be doing the interview.

Let's just say this comes from learning it the hard way.

[music box arrangement of Brahms's lullaby]

[snoring]

[snoring and lullaby are interrupted by ringtone]

[phone vibrates]

Design a useful interview guide.

You want to encourage your interviewee to describe their experience freely and openly.

The more open-ended questions you have, the more they will be able to do just that.

If you've booked to speak to someone for an hour, let's say, then you want to make sure,

when you write your list of questions, that you can all fit them within an hour

and to leave a bit of space to go slightly  off topic as well or to ask them to elaborate. 

Or if you get someone who's really chatty and  keeps giving really long answers,

you don't want to have to cut them off every time.

So it's good to build some extra time.

Check your tech.

Download the latest version of whatever video conferencing software you're going to use,

so that you don't have any of those awkward  "updating moments" right before the interview.

Whatever tech you're using, double-check it. That's the first tip.

Always just test that it's working.

The second tip would be to have a plan B ready for anything that can go wrong.

For instance, if my voice recorder stops working,  I also have my phone on the table. 

In most cases, I actually record with both at the same time.

Because the worst thing that can happen is to do a whole interview

and get somebody's time for an hour and then not to have recorded it.

And not have taken notes, because I don't really like looking down all the time.

So I completely rely on my technology.

Set the scene.

You only have a 2D image to work with.

But still you're actually communicating a lot within this type of frame.

Are there any distracting elements in the background?

[clears throat]

Consider if it might even be better to just use a simple, clean backdrop. 

Find a window if you have access to one and sit right in front of it or with your side to it.

That means that the quality of your webcam image will also be far better.

Next up: What does the interviewee hear?

My sound setup is really simple.

I'm just wearing the normal kind of Apple headphones, just the standard ones.

And my microphone is just this one, and I'm doing that on purpose.

One reason is that your voice will now not be in the entire room,  

which gives people a bit more of a sense that it can be confidential.

But the other reason is that if my microphone is here,

you can actually hear me properly, and I don't have to yell at you.

I make sure as well that I'm in a quiet room by myself,

like not having anyone else in the room.

Ideally not having any pets in the room either.

I close the window, so there isn't much noise from outside,

because we're on the street here.

I close the door, so you don't hear

my laundry machine rumbling in the background and stuff like that.

I tell my partner: "I'm in an important  interview. I really don't want to be disturbed."

[bistro samba funk music]

Build rapport.

Since you're meeting virtually, and you're just sort of starting right away,

there isn't a lot of time to establish rapport and build that kind of trust

that's needed to get a really good interview.

So don't cut the chit chat.

Have some sort of go-to topic that you can rely on

and use that as a way to sort of ease into the conversation.

So a simple question like: "How's your day been so far?" or

"Have you been really busy today?"

can really help you to get quite a lot of information  about how they're arriving into this interview.

Another challenge is around how you behave in the room

and to create a certain atmosphere that seems like it's just the two of you

and it's a kind of trusted conversation, where you can say anything

and where you don't have other people listening in.

So I made a real point of not looking to other people in the room

if there were other people in the room.

Or even if my partner came in with tea, I wouldn't look at him.

Because that would break that kind of one-to-one conversation.

One of the drawbacks of online interviews is that you can't have the same eye contact.

So what you want to do is whenever you're speaking,

you look into the webcam and not down at them.

Because that ensures that every once in a while,

they get the sense that you actually have eye contact.

I know it feels strange that I'm looking at a camera rather than at your face.

But I know that for you it will look like I'm talking to you.

So I make an effort to try and talk to you and to give you that feeling.

It helps to resize the window and move it close to where the webcam is located.

Because then you're sort of naturally inclined to look more at the webcam.

You can also put a little sticker or something next to the webcam

to remind yourself to look into it every once in a while.

Yeah. [laughs] That that makes a lot of sense, definitely.

When your interviewee is answering your questions,

you want to signal that you're doing a lot of active listening.

And you can do that in many different ways.

I do a lot of nodding [laughs] to signal my interest

and to really show them that I want to hear more. I sometimes even ask:

"Oh, can you say more about that? That sounds really interesting."

That kind of validation, just me saying: "That's really interesting" -

that helps them to go like: "Oh, yeah, it really is interesting."

And they tell you a lot more.

It can be really helpful, just a simple sentence like that.

[silence]

Silences - don't be afraid of them.

If it's online, a silence can sometimes mean that you've lost the internet connection.

So whenever there's silence, people always freak out thinking:

"Oh no, my Wi-Fi is gone." So that's that's not great.

So I try to keep nodding and moving,

so that at least they see that I'm there, even though I'm quiet.

But also, a silence can really help as a prompt to let someone speak more.

So whenever they finish an answer, and I kind of feel like  

there could be a lot more in this, or there's more detail, or they might give an example,

I just kind of keep nodding and just stay quiet as if i'm expecting them to keep going.

And then after a second or two, they'll start to feel so awkward

that they do keep going, and they come up with another example or another part of that story.

And that's often then where there are really interesting examples,

because they've had to dig a bit deeper and kind of think a bit more about it.

So take a beat before you answer.

Also because there is the very technical aspect of an online interview

that if you jump in, you'll accidentally be cutting off the mic of your interviewee,

which is obviously not very desirable in an online interview.

Overcome tech hurdles.

This is potentially our worst nightmare when we're doing these online online interviews:

The technology fails or crashes.

The other thing that can go horribly wrong is when your Wi-Fi drops.

That's when I then have my phone close to me,

so that I can turn on my hotspot and just keep going on my 4G.

Not great, but that's the only option.

Hopefully it'll only be a short interruption that way, and you can tell the person:

"I'm logging in again. I'll be right back."

If the connection fails completely, you'll have to arrange another time to talk.  

Perhaps you can do the rest of the  interview via chat or email

or simply grab the phone and do it via the phone instead.

So have some backup plans for what you'll do if the technology fails you in the situation.

Fingers crossed it doesn't, though.

[instrumental music with flute melody and vibraphone]

Another way to generate rich data is to get creative.

Getting people to draw something is also a way of engaging with a material reality

in this very digital situation.

For all my interviewees, it's sparked something different in them  

I need to draw a keyboard really quickly.

And what else?

Notebook.

[flute music continues]

I hope you can see it properly. I can't see if it's in the picture.

That is a masterpiece, come on.

Paperwork.

Packages that are being delivered in between, and you're being interrupted.

There's a glass of water, which can go wrong.  You can drop your glass of water on your computer,

and you might have to cancel the whole interview. Everything could go wrong.

And then there's also the things that were inside the interview.

The things that are actually on record. There's a lot not on the record, as you can see.

But things around like eye contact  that we talked about.

And just general thoughts and talks.

And ethics approval and just keeping it going and all of that.

[bistro samba funk music]

When it's then time to say goodbye, it's always  nice to say thank you again and be polite. 

And remind the interviewee how you're going to use their input. 

And often I do send another email afterwards saying:

"Oh, that was really great. Here are some final things that I want to share."

Or anything you've mentioned during the interview that you would send or whatever.  

And just to thank them again for their time.

Capture your own experience.

When you're completely done: You've said goodbye.

You've pressed the "end meeting" button -

You have lots of impressions.

And you want to make sure that those are saved somehow.

Because you'll forget those more  ephemeral qualities quite soon after.

[French jazz waltz]

Things that I would write down are things like:

What really struck me about this interview? What stood out?

What was different from what I expected?

But also some kind of circumstantial things like:

When we talked about this topic, the person seemed really uncomfortable.  

Those types of things are very helpful for later on when you're listening through the interview

to get a bit of a richer and more nuanced picture in your brain.

And it helps you recall the memory of being in that interview situation.

They are your first impressions of the interview and of what you've been talking about

and of some of the new things that you've heard.

And if you don't write them down, you might get used to those ideas already,

and they don't stand out as much anymore.

You kind of forget that they were actually  really interesting, because they just blend in

with all of the other data, and you're like: "Yeah, well, that was just the data I gathered."  

All right.

Well, unless there's anything else you want to add?

Not really. I mean, we've covered pretty much everything, right?

It's been a good list of online interviewing tips.

Right. Well, then I'm going to do the very  Zoom thing and wave like this.

And say thank you very much, Stella.

And take care.

Thank you so much. Thanks for having me.

[mouse click]

[retro spy theme music]