Interviewing experts for research is a valuable skill for networking and learning. Experts can provide insights, perspectives, and feedback that can enrich your understanding of a topic, problem, or field. However, interviewing experts also requires preparation, respect, and curiosity. Here are some tips to help you conduct effective and engaging interviews with experts for research.
Before you reach out to potential experts, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn from them and why. What are the main questions or challenges that you are trying to address with your research? What are the gaps in your existing knowledge or sources? How can the experts help you fill those gaps or provide new angles? Having specific and relevant goals will help you narrow down your list of experts, craft your invitation, and design your interview questions.
Requesting an interview from someone inherently signifies that you acknowledge their expertise and value their time. Given that time is among our most precious assets, it should not be wasted. Therefore, before reaching out, it's crucial to establish clear objectives and the anticipated outcome of the meeting. Endeavor to emphasize the mutual benefits your actions will generate for both you and the person you're engaging with.
I do agree that preparation is key, and you must spend time on framing the questions you are seeking answers for. I has worked for me to ask them about their experiences and how they would approach certain challenges.
In my view, conducting effective expert interviews for research begins by clearly identifying your goals. Before reaching out to potential experts, define the specific questions or challenges you aim to address and the knowledge gaps you seek to fill. This focused approach not only streamlines the selection process but also allows you to tailor your invitations and interview questions with precision. By aligning your goals with the expertise of those you approach, you ensure a purposeful and productive exchange of insights during the research process.
Prior to conducting expert interviews for research, you should clearly define your objectives and the precise insights or data you hope to obtain. Make a structured list of questions designed to elicit the information & expertise you are looking for once your goals have been established. When contacting prospective interview subjects, make sure they understand the goal of your study & the value they may bring to the table. Throughout the interview, pay close attention to what they say, probe further with follow-up questions to cover pertinent ground, and be prepared to change course as needed. Lastly, show them that you appreciate their time & knowledge by thanking them for their advice &, if needed, guaranteeing your anonymity or secrecy.
Once you have your goals, you need to find and contact experts who can help you achieve them. Depending on your topic and scope, you can use different methods to identify experts, such as online searches, social media, referrals, publications, events, or organizations. When you contact them, you need to be polite, concise, and clear. Explain who you are, what you are working on, why you are interested in their expertise, and what you are asking for. Be respectful of their time and availability, and offer some options for the interview format, duration, and date.
One thing that helps me quite a lot is my own professional network, but sometimes asking your vendors, the ones you have a good partnership, to help finding experts, may help tremendously.
Select your expert based on your objectives and target audience. People's perception of expertise varies based on their values, so it's essential to align with an expert who resonates with your audience's interests. For instance, a social media influencer and an academic researcher typically attract different types of followers. Formulate a clear statement and intention before reaching out. In my experience, experts across various fields are usually open to sharing knowledge. Even if they aren't, there's no harm in trying.
In my view, the process of interviewing experts for research commences with finding and contacting the right individuals. Utilize diverse methods, including online searches, social media, referrals, publications, and relevant events, to identify experts aligned with your research goals. When reaching out, ensure your communication is concise, polite, and transparent, detailing who you are, your project's focus, and why their expertise is valuable. Respect their time constraints, provide flexibility in interview arrangements, and articulate the purpose clearly to foster a collaborative and constructive engagement.
The first step in conducting expert interviews for research is to find possible experts using scholarly journals, trade associations, and internet resources like research directories and LinkedIn. Write a brief, individualised email outlining the goal of the interview, your study topic, and yourself. Clearly state the expert's value offer and how their knowledge could advance your research. Show them that you appreciate their time and availability by providing flexible times for the interview. If you don't hear back from them right away, follow up courteously and thank them for agreeing to take part.
After you get a positive response from an expert, you need to prepare your questions for the interview. Your questions should be open-ended, focused, and relevant to your goals. Avoid questions that can be answered with a yes or no, or that are too broad or vague. Instead, ask questions that invite the expert to share their opinions, experiences, insights, or recommendations. You can also use follow-up questions to probe deeper or clarify something. Ideally, you should have a mix of questions that cover the background, context, challenges, solutions, and implications of your topic.
Good questions generates good answers, so I normally try to create scenarios with questions to put the experts in "my shoes", and that normally gives me the best answers.
In my view, conducting effective expert interviews for research hinges on meticulous question preparation. Craft open-ended, focused inquiries directly aligned with your research goals, steering clear of yes/no or overly broad queries. Encourage experts to share valuable opinions, experiences, insights, or recommendations, fostering a rich exchange of information. Employing follow-up questions allows for deeper exploration and clarification, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the background, context, challenges, solutions, and implications related to your research topic.
It's important to conduct extensive prior research on the backgrounds and areas of expertise of experts you interview for study. Make sure your questions are well-thought-out and precise, focusing on certain areas of their expertise. Take into account their viewpoint and look for insights that support the goals of your investigation. To encourage thorough answers, keep your questions open-ended. Additionally, be willing to go down unexpected paths that may come up during the interview. Lastly, to encourage a fruitful exchange of information, conduct yourself during the interview with professionalism and respect.
When you conduct the interview, you need to be professional, attentive, and curious. Start by thanking the expert for their time and interest, and briefly reminding them of your goals and agenda. Then, follow your questions, but be flexible and adaptable to the flow of the conversation. Listen actively and respectfully to the expert's answers, and show your appreciation and curiosity. Avoid interrupting, arguing, or dominating the conversation. Also, make sure to ask for permission before recording or taking notes, and respect the expert's confidentiality and preferences.
During the interview, maintaining a professional, attentive, and curious demeanor is crucial. Express gratitude for the expert's time, briefly revisiting the goals and agenda. Follow your prepared questions but stay adaptable to the conversation's natural flow. Active listening is paramount show appreciation for the expert's insights while refraining from interruptions or dominating the dialogue. Always seek permission before recording or taking notes, respecting confidentiality and the expert's preferences throughout the interview process.
Being curious, a good listener, and not defensive is a powerful skill. We hire experts to tell us what to do, not to agree with our approaches or vouch for things in our way. If the conversation is deviating from the objective you initially had, try to politely go back to the original questions and perhaps phrase them differently. Interruptions are sometimes necessary to keep the focus in the right place!
Conducting an interview effectively is both an art and a science. The interviewer plays a pivotal role in steering the conversation correctly and extracting valuable insights from the expert. Therefore, it's essential to prepare not just the interview itself, but also to equip yourself with the right interviewing techniques. Consider doing a dry-run or practice session before initiating the actual conversation with the expert.
After the interview, you need to analyze and apply the results of your research. Review your notes or recordings, and summarize the main points, insights, and feedback that the expert provided. Compare and contrast the results with your other sources and findings, and identify any patterns, gaps, or contradictions. Then, apply the results to your research project, and see how they help you answer your questions, solve your problems, or improve your work. Finally, don't forget to thank the expert again for their contribution, and share your outcomes or feedback with them if appropriate.
I typically conduct my analysis after conducting multiple interviews. Since each individual may have their own biased perspective, I tend to adhere to the "rule of three" to ensure a more balanced and reliable assessment.
In my view, the interview process reaches its pinnacle with the critical steps of analyzing and applying the obtained results. Thoroughly review and summarize the expert's insights, comparing them with existing findings to unveil patterns, gaps, or contradictions. The real value emerges when these results are applied to your research project, providing answers, solutions, or enhancements. Express gratitude to the expert once again and, if applicable, share the outcomes or feedback, fostering a reciprocal exchange of insights and contributing to a collaborative research landscape.
You need to know your audience. Read what your interview partner has written on the topic. Check all channels you can think of. Put yourself in their shoes. Are they more academic or business, finance, marketing, or technology ... ? Depending on the profile, preferences, and abilities of your interview partner adjust your interview style.