Preparing an Interview Guide for a University Project

An interview guide is a plan for a conversation, not a script that forces every respondent into the same story. It translates a research question into open prompts, possible follow-ups and an ethical introduction. Good questions invite concrete accounts without suggesting the answer. Before recruiting, check consent, recording and storage requirements. If the assignment permits interviews, a short pilot can reveal whether your prompts generate the evidence you need.

Start with the research question

For every planned prompt, write which part of the question it helps answer. Begin with accessible context, then move to experiences, decisions or examples. Avoid asking participants to diagnose broad causes they cannot observe. “Tell me about the last time you sought feedback on an assignment” is often more productive than “Why do students dislike feedback?” because it asks for a specific account.

Write neutral prompts and probes

Use open wording and prepare follow-ups such as “What happened next?” or “Can you give an example?” These probes invite detail without putting a conclusion into the participant’s mouth. Avoid combining several questions in one prompt. Put potentially sensitive topics later, if they are necessary and approved. Make clear that declining a question is allowed when your consent process provides for it.

Pilot for timing and comprehension

Try the guide with a suitable pilot participant under the relevant rules. Note where a question is misunderstood, where it leads to yes-or-no answers and how long the discussion takes. Revise the order to reduce abrupt transitions. A guide with twelve thoughtful prompts can still be too long for a twenty-minute interview if each invites detailed stories. Allow time for a final “Is there anything important I missed?” question.

Document the interview consistently

Decide how you will record or take notes, how names will be handled and where files will be stored. Do not promise anonymity if you know identifiable context will remain in quotations. Use a consistent introduction and consent process. During the conversation, listen for unexpected but relevant themes while keeping the core research purpose in view. Afterward, note context and your own assumptions before memory fades.

Connect prompts to analysis

Group responses by the question they illuminate, not simply by interview order. When themes emerge, check them against whole accounts, including contradictory examples. If you change the guide during the project, record which participants received which prompts. The method section should explain how the guide was developed and how deviations were handled, not imply that every conversation was identical if it was not.

Worked example

For a project about academic feedback, ask: “Describe a recent comment that changed your draft,” then probe “What did you change?” and “What made the advice usable?” These prompts reveal a process. “Did our helpful tutor improve your grades?” leads the participant and assumes an outcome you may not be able to verify. The wording of the guide shapes the quality of the evidence.

Order prompts around a real incident

A guide often improves when it moves from general opinion to a recent concrete event. Begin with an easy context question, ask the participant to describe one specific situation, then probe decisions, obstacles and outcomes. At the end, ask whether that incident was typical or unusual for them. This sequence can reveal nuance that “Do you like feedback?” misses. During analysis, remember that a vivid story is not necessarily a common one. Compare it with other accounts and note differences. If you pilot the guide and find a sensitive question causes discomfort, consider whether it is necessary at all; the research question may be answerable through less intrusive prompts. Follow your approved consent and withdrawal procedure throughout.

Checklist before you submit

Map each prompt to the research question.
Use open, neutral questions and prepared probes.
Pilot timing and interpretation.
Record consent, changes and analysis decisions.

Questions students ask

Should every interview use identical wording?

Keep core topics consistent while allowing appropriate follow-up. Document meaningful differences.

Can I record a conversation on my phone?

Only if your institution’s rules and participant consent allow it, with an approved storage and deletion plan.