"In common parlance, the word 'interview' refers to a one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and an interviewee."
The skills required to conduct an effective interview with artists, curators, and other figures in the art scene.
Researching the subject/artist/interviewee: This includes finding out information about the person you will be interviewing, their background, previous work, and their interests.
Developing questions: This involves crafting open-ended questions that prompt discussion and encourage the interviewee to give thoughtful responses.
Active listening: Being attentive during the interview, not interrupting, and responding appropriately to the interviewee's comments.
Body language and voice tone: Non-verbal communication can impact how the interviewee perceives the interviewer and affect the interview's outcome. Voice tone can help put the interviewee at ease, even during tough questions.
Building rapport: An essential aspect of a successful interview is building a rapport with the interviewee.
Choosing the right interview location: Selecting an ideal location with suitable lighting and a suitable atmosphere.
Conducting the interview: This includes ensuring that the interview flows naturally and feels like a conversation rather than an interrogation.
Note-taking strategies: Discussing effective note-taking strategies during and after the interview.
Handling difficult situations: During an interview, unexpected situations may arise, and being flexible and handling them gracefully is essential.
Transcribing and editing: Being comfortable with transcribing interviews and polishing them for publication.
Conducting follow-up interviews: Building relationships with interviewees and conducting follow-up interviews.
Standard interviews: The interviewer asks questions, and the subject answers them. This is the most common approach to interviewing.
Feature interviews: Feature interviews focus on a particular topic or aspect of the subject's life or work. This type of interview will provide readers with more insight into the subject.
Profile interviews: Profile interviews delve deeper into the subject's life or work. These types of interviews usually involve a more in-depth conversation between the interviewer and subject.
Investigative interviews: Investigative interviews are used to expose stories that have otherwise gone unnoticed. They are used in-depth to get down to the truth of the matter.
Group interviews: Group interviews are conducted when the interviewer talks to more than one subject at once. This can be a great way to compare and contrast insights and opinions.
Telephone interviews: A telephone interview is when the interviewer conducts the interview over the phone. This is a useful option when the interviewer and subject are in different locations.
Online interviews: An online interview can be conducted using email or an online chat service. This option provides more flexibility for scheduling the interview.
Conversational interviews: Conversational interviews are conducted like ordinary conversations. The interviewer can prepare questions, but they are not rigidly followed, and the interview can go in different directions.
Structured interviews: Structured interviews are used in qualitative research to get respondents to answer questions in a standard way. The answers can then be statistically analyzed.
Unstructured interviews: Unstructured interviews are open-ended and involve more discussion between the interviewer and subject. The interviewer may have a list of topics to cover, but the conversation is flexible, allowing the subject to share and elaborate.
"The interviewer asks questions to which the interviewee responds, usually providing information."
"A job interview or interview with a witness to an event may have no other audience present at the time, but the answers will be later provided to others in the employment or investigative process."
"An interview may also transfer information in both directions."
"Interviews usually take place face-to-face, in person."
"Interviews may be separated geographically, as in videoconferencing or telephone interviews."
"Interviews almost always involve spoken conversation between two or more parties."
"In some instances, a 'conversation' can happen between two persons who type their questions and answers."
"Interviews can be unstructured, free-wheeling and open-ended conversations without predetermined plan or prearranged questions."
"One form of unstructured interview is a focused interview in which the interviewer consciously and consistently guides the conversation so that the interviewee's responses do not stray from the main research topic or idea."
"Interviews can also be highly structured conversations in which specific questions occur in a specified order."
"They can follow diverse formats; for example, in a ladder interview, a respondent's answers typically guide subsequent interviews, with the object being to explore a respondent's subconscious motives."
"Typically, the interviewer has some way of recording the information that is gleaned from the interviewee, often by keeping notes with a pencil and paper, or with a video or audio recorder."
"The traditionally two-person interview format, sometimes called a one-on-one interview, permits direct questions and follow-ups, which enables an interviewer to better gauge the accuracy and relevance of responses."
"It is a flexible arrangement in the sense that subsequent questions can be tailored to clarify earlier answers."
"Further, it eliminates possible distortion due to other parties being present."