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IV. Preparing for Interview

A.     Understand the Purpose of the Survey

It is important that you understand the purpose of the project and the survey process so that you can explain them to the respondent as needed.  Use the standardized explanations.  

B.  Practice

You will participate in practice interviews during the training period.  Continue to practice reading the questions on your own, paying close attention to order.  This will help you to ask questions smoothly and without hesitation during the interview.  Practice also assures that questions are asked the same way for each respondent.  It will also be helpful to practice recording answers and making interviewer comment notes during the practice sessions.  

C.      Reserve Interview Location

Make sure ahead of time that a room or private space is available on the day and time of the interview.  Because of the length of the questionnaire, it is important to be sure of a quiet, private, comfortable place.  

D.    Take Required Forms

Before each interview, prepare the questionnaire with the person’s identification code number.  Also have available all required documents, including the informed consent form, the lists of resources, and the project director’s business card.  The Appendix in Section V includes copies of all the forms you will need during the interview process.  

E.     Take Supplies

Prepare and take with you sharpened pencils, an eraser, a laptop computer, an envelop containing respondent payment, a watch, a box of tissues, a diskette and an envelope for the completed questionnaire (see Checklist in Appendix).  

F.      Create a favorable environment

When the respondent arrives, introduce yourself and show the respondent where to sit.  You should be in a seating arrangement where you are facing one another.  This position allows each of you to see the other’s facial expression and maximizes the ability to hear both questions and answers.  You will need to arrange beforehand for a table or hard surface upon which you will place the questionnaire, forms, laptop, supplies, and code cards that you will use with the questionnaire.  The respondent does not need to see the questionnaire, but they need to be close enough to see the code cards when you display them.  After the respondent has been seated, give them a few minutes to get comfortable.  Thank them for coming and spend a few minutes in small talk until you both feel comfortable with starting the interview.  

If they respondent does not arrive at the scheduled time, check your Contact Record Form to be sure you have the correct time.  Then follow the 15-minute rule.  This means you should wait for the respondent until 15 minutes after the scheduled interview time.  After 15 minutes have passed, you can call the person from the [Site].  Once you have contacted the respondent, explain to them that they missed your scheduled interview time and that you would like to reschedule again.  If possible, ask the respondent to come to the [Site] and complete the interview.  If the respondent shows up as you are beginning to leave, you should explain to the respondent that they were 15 minutes late.  It is important to avoid rescheduling.  Make an effort to conduct the interview even if the respondent is late.  Reschedule only if necessary.   

It is possible that the respondent may bring a friend or guest to the interview.  Our confidentiality procedure strictly prohibits the interview being conducted with more than one respondent at a time.  It is also possible that the respondent will not be completely honest when answering questions if a person other than the interviewer is present during the interview.  You should explain to the respondent that all answers must remain confidential and that their friend/guest must wait for them while the interview is being conducted, or if they choose they can reschedule the interview for another time.  If the respondent has questions about this guideline, refer their questions to the Field Coordinator.   

G.    Review the Information for Informed Consent and Confidentiality:

Before asking the interview questions, take time to explain once again the purpose of the survey and how the information will be used.  Go over the standardized responses, including:  

  1. Who is sponsoring the survey and conducting the research
  2. How you got the respondent’s name
  3. How you will use the respondent’s answers
  4. How the respondent will be paid
  5. Why the respondent’s participation is important

Go over the issue of confidentiality.  Review the procedures that will be used to ensure the confidentiality of the respondent’s identity and of the information recorded on the questionnaire (see Section III C).  Next, verify that the respondent has signed an informed consent form.  If not, give him or her a copy of the form.  Ask the respondent to read it carefully and then sign it if he or she understands and agrees to be interviewed (see Section III D).  Remind the respondents that they may stop participating in the survey at any time and that stopping would not affect their continued use of the peer services or traditional services. 

 
H.  Present the Instructions about the Interview Format:

You will need to explain the format of the interview, covering the following
items:

  1. Length of the interview
  2. How questions will be read and a selection of possible answers on a card will be presented
  3. How answers will be recorded on a paper questionnaire or  a laptop computer

      You are now ready to begin asking the survey questions!

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