Research Strategy:
Interviews
Individuals often have personal experience or expertise that can assist us in our research projects and we can only get access to that information through an interview.
As you begin your research project, consider individuals with whom you could discuss your project. Some of them might be members of the faculty or people in the community. You might also try to interview the authors or articles, books, or web sites you consulted. Or someone in your class might suggest a person they know who knows something about your topic.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in the interview process is lack of preparation. Prior to contacting someone to interview, you should do preliminary research on the topic. That way, you will have a basis for conversation. Furthermore, when you indicate that you have done your homework, you establish yourself as a serious researcher and it is more likely to get cooperation from your interview subject.
Although we generally think of interviews as taking place face-to-face or over the telephone, they can also be conducted via e-mail. You should not hesitate to send a specific question to someone via e-mail. Your e-mail should be brief, include a specific question, and indicate that you have done background research. It is likely that you will not get a response, if your tone comes across as "Will you do my research for me?" Furthermore, unless you have permission from him/her, do not send the individual you want to interview a list of questions.
Additional Resources
We have listed the following reference because it is a tuturial that will teach you how to conduct an effective interview. For the tutorial, Coopman (2003) "includes seven modules Each module includes an activity for you to apply what you've learned. The modules correspond with the seven stages in the information interview. Before beginning, assess your knowledge of information interviewing by completing the Pre-Test. There's a post-test at the end so you can compare your scores."
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Coopman, Stephanie J. 
