Adapted from Stringer Media at MIT. "How to Conduct an Interview." Retrieved September 8, 2009.
http://stringers.media.mit.edu/interview.htm
The ability to ask open-ended questions isa key component in interviewing for journalism, television, radio and other media.
An open-ended question is designed to encourage a full, meaningful answer using the subject's own knowledge and/or feelings. It is the opposite of a closed-ended question, which encourages a short or single-word answer. Open-ended questions also tend to be more objective and less leading than closed-ended questions (see next page).
Open-ended questions typically begin with words such as "Why" and "How", or phrases such as "Tell me about...". Often they are not technically a question, but a statement which implicitly asks for a response.
Closed-Ended Question | Open-Ended Question | |
Do you get on well with your alderman? | Tell me about your relationship with your alderman. | |
Who will you vote for this election? | What do you think about the two candidates in this election? | |
When did you open your business? | Tell me how your business got started. |
Adapted from MediaCollege.com."Open-ended Questions". Retrieved September 8, 2009.
http://www.mediacollege.com/journalism/interviews/open-ended-questions.html
As soon as it's practical after the interview, find a quiet place to review your handwritten notes.
Adapted from Stringer Media at MIT. "How to Conduct an Interview." Retrieved September 8, 2009.
http://stringers.media.mit.edu/interview.htm