Tests & Measurement for People Who (Think They) Hate Tests & Measurement by Neil J. Salkind

Author:Neil J. Salkind [Salkind, Neil J.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2017-04-18T04:00:00+00:00

How to Do ’Em: The Guidelines

The first thing we need to do when planning an interview is prepare, which includes a good deal of time thinking ahead and becoming familiar with the subject of the interview and/or the topic. We would not think of the hosts of NPR’s All Things Considered as social scientists or Charlie Rose as a tests and measurement expert, but it is obvious when you listen or watch those hosts interview someone, they have really done their homework and know exactly what question to ask to get things started and what follow-ups to ask as the interviewee responds.

For example, in the case of a multiple-choice test, we need to make sure the room is well lit, the temperature is not too hot or too cold, there are plenty of seats for test takers, and so forth. For an interview, however, there’s a bit more to do, and how well we plan at this stage often determines the success or failure of the interview.

When planning for your interview and actually conducting it, keep the following in mind:

Do your homework. If you are interviewing someone about their work, read their work beforehand or become familiar with their professional efforts or accomplishments. There’s no substitute for being well informed and letting the interviewee indirectly know that by demonstrating your knowledge.

Before you begin the interview process, explain the nature of the interview to the individual being interviewed. How long will it take? What kinds of questions will you ask? What is this about? What do I do if I feel uncomfortable about answering some of these questions? Will the results be shared? Who are you? Why are you doing this? When will we be done? Do I have to answer truthfully? All these questions—and about 100 more—may be asked by interviewees, and you must have answers.

Practice, practice, practice. You won’t be an expert when you first start, so take your time, practice on people other than the real interviewee (friends, family, and colleagues), and get a general sense of what types of questions might best lead to responses that are useful. Write down the best set of questions you can from a discussion with a practice interviewee, and then refine those as you practice with others. It doesn’t matter what type of interview you want to conduct, be it open ended or very structured—there’s no substitute for being well prepared, and there’s no saving grace when you’re not.

Ensure confidentiality. Make sure—absolutely, uncategorically, forever and ever—that the anonymity of the person being interviewed and his or her statements will be absolutely, without a doubt, for sure maintained. This is a very sensitive topic and one you have to be very mindful of. Whatever the nature of the topic or the content, nothing goes beyond you and the immediate need-to-know folks. Who are need-to-know folks? Professional audiences and professional colleagues and no one else. The success of any interview is based on the interviewer’s assurance that anything said remains in confidence. In

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