Conducting Effective Interviews and Collecting Preliminary Data in a Systematic Way

Qualitative Interview
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Part 1
Question one
In her work “Conducting Effective Interviews,” Merriam talks about how to conduct an interview and what should be put into consideration when formalizing effective questions. According to Merriam (2009), the aim of conducting an interview is to get information about the interviewee’s point of views. Interviews are solely meant to gain knowledge about the subject matter. Merriam emphasizes the need of conducting a little research about the topic before coming into contact with the interviewee. For example, it is advisable to ask friends and colleagues about the subject matter before meeting the interviewee. When it comes to conducting the actual interview, Merriam advises starting the process by asking the interviewees to comment about their expertise on the subject matter to explain the credibility of their knowledge and experience at hand. Merriam considers a good interview involves asking open-ended questions to the interviewees.
Obtaining important information from an SME is vital for obtaining vital targeted business information. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a person who is knowledgeable in a particular field and can answer questions from an interviewer who is trying to understand that specific field (VanderStoep and Johnston, 2009). Before interviewing an SME, it is important for the interviewer to familiarize himself with the subject matter by searching information from available materials/resources. For example, going online can help to get more information about the subject matter. It is vital to develop questions to ask the SME before the actual interview. This is vital as it assists in framing interviewer’s cursory understanding. When it comes to meeting face-to-face interview with an interviewee, the interviewer should ask open-ended questions and not irrelevant questions.
Question two
Important lessons can be learned from conducting interviews to the SMEs, and this can be applied in a context similar to what Willerton commented on “Writing toward Readers’ Better Health.” In Willerton’s case study, there is a company known as Alturas that provides health information to online consumers. About 80% of US internet users have found online health information important to address their health problems/issues. To make online health information, editors and writers at Alturas Company conducts many activities related to the technical communication field. They collect health information from SMEs and use such information to create health blogs and online health information to enable consumers access such information online (Seidman, 2013). Before posting such health information online, editors and writers of the company arrange to meet specific SMEs, who are health experts, to talk about particular subject matters. They conduct interviews with SMEs using Merriam’s suggestions and instructions of conducting interviews with SMEs to gather health information.
Part 2
Question one
Merriam (2009) identifies three types of interviews an interviewer should use when conducting interviews. An interviewer can use the three types of interviews to get stan...