Deck 5: The Informational Interview

Question 1

Discuss five ways to answer strategically when being interviewed.

Answer 1

Answer will vary.

Question 2

What are the key parts of the traditional journalistic interview guide?

Answer 2

Answer will vary.

Question 3

As an interviewer, you might prefer to be equal to the interviewee for all of the reasons below except

A)the interviewer can control the interview.
B)rapport is easily established.
C)a high degree of empathy is possible.
D)there are fewer communication barriers.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What is the fundamental purpose of an informational interview?

Question 5

What criteria should one use when selecting interviewers?

Question 6

What criteria should an interviewer use when selecting interviewees?

Question 7

Discuss how to handle four of the seven difficult types of interviewees.

Question 8

If you were asked to mentor a new interviewer, what suggestions would you give this person about opening interviews?

Question 9

If you were asked to talk about note taking to an introductory journalism class, what guidelines would you address as essential to effective note taking?

Question 10

Discuss ways to assess the relationship between interview parties.

Question 11

What are the guidelines for recording interviews?

Question 12

How might you handle a talkative interviewee?

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a rule for questions in informational interviews?

A)Avoid multiple questions.
B)Avoid questions that put the interviewee on the spot.
C)Use bipolar questions sparingly.
D)Avoid open-to-closed switch questions.

Question 14

Discuss how similarities and differences of parties may affect the relational dimensions of the interview.

Question 15

List four suggestions for those in videoconference interviews.

Question 16

The authors suggest that you may need to break the rules to get the information you want. Discuss this and give examples of situations where this might take place.

Question 17

When would an interviewer find it desirable to be subordinate to the interviewee?

Question 18

How does a press conference differ from a traditional interview?

Question 19

Discuss four precautions to preparing the final story.

Question 20

Explain why the broadcast interview poses unique challenges to both parties.

Question 21

Research shows that African-Americans prefer

A)indirect questions.
B)equal turn taking.
C)both a and b
D)none of the above

Question 22

Women tend to answer questions with questions.

Question 23

Three advantages of recording interviews are

A)enables you to relax and concentrate, you can hear and watch what was said hours later, you can pick up answers that might be inaudible at the time.
B)attention, shows the interviewee you care, conceals your nervousness.
C)serves as a memory jogger, keeps track of details, makes the respondent think you care.
D)gives you something to do with your hands, suggests additional questions, aids creating the final report.

Question 24

In informational interviews, you must learn to deal effectively with

A)the neutral interviewee, the ambivalent interviewee, and the undecided interviewee.
B)the emotional interviewee, the hostile interviewee, and the evasive interviewee.
C)the suspicious interviewee, the knowledgeable interviewee, and the deceptive interviewee.
D)all of the above

Question 25

Which of the following is a reason potential respondents may be unwilling to meet with you?

A)mistrust your organization
B)fear harm to themselves
C)feel information is no one else's business
D)all of the above

Question 26

Research indicates that

A)Mexican-Americans may rely more on emotion and intuition.
B)African-Americans prefer direct questions.
C)midwestern Americans consider extensive probing to be intrusive.
D)urban Americans place high value on know-how, skills, and practicality.

Question 27

Which of the following is a way to reduce hostility or avoid creating it?

A)use neutral, open-ended questions
B)use loaded questions
C)continue to talk while the party becomes calmer
D)stay on the current topic

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT one of the criteria for selecting interviewees?

A)level of information
B)talkativeness
C)willingness
D)ability

Question 29

Which type of interview severely limits the interviewer's control?

A)press conference
B)group interviews
C)both a and b
D)unsanitized setting

Question 30

Which of the following is part of the availability criteria?

A)person is available for only a few minutes
B)source is too far away
C)source is unavailable until after a deadline
D)all of the above

Question 31

The interviewee needs to also do his/her homework. Which of the following is something your authors recommend to consider?

A)learn about the interviewer
B)check organizational policies
C)decide if someone else should be interviewed
D)all of the above

Question 32

Ken Metzler recommends we avoid the term interview and call it a

A)conversation.
B)talk.
C)chat.
D)all of the above

Question 33

Evasive strategies include all of the following except

A)humor.
B)fake hostility.
C)ambiguous language.
D)embarrassment.

Question 34

Which of the following are nonverbal techniques that may assist the interviewer with talkative interviewees?

A)lean forward
B)look at your notes
C)glance at your watch
D)all of the above

Question 35

The informational interview requires the interviewer to do three things immediately:

A)get ideas, find respondents, and check tape recorder.
B)obtain phone numbers of respondents, write questions, and clarify the topic.
C)find a topic, prepare a schedule of questions, and write the report.
D)determine your goal, research the topic, and structure the interview.

Question 36

According to Eric Nalder, the number one characteristic of an ideal journalist or informational interviewer is

A)optimism.
B)determination.
C)curiosity.
D)suspicion.

Question 37

Which of the following is a strategy for dealing with evasive interviewees?

A)laugh and continue
B)go on to other questions
C)repeat a question
D)all of the above

Question 38

Men answer questions with declarations.

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the ability criteria?

A)poor memory
B)failing health
C)fear of risk
D)state of shock

Question 40

Which of the following should you NOT do as a respondent?

A)hesitate before answering
B)focus on both the interviewer and the question
C)assume you know what a question is before it is completed
D)be patient

Question 41

The purpose of the informational interview is to get relevant and timely information as accurately and completely as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Question 42

Experts agree on the use of recorders during the interview process.

Question 43

Experts agree on the amount of note taking that should take place during an interview.

Question 44

John and Denise Bittner suggest that crisis situation interviews should not be prolonged.

Question 45

It is acceptable to use the following statement to enhance willingness: "If you don't talk to us, we'll have to rely on other sources."

Question 46

Reticence to talk is always related to the interview situation.

Question 47

We are flattered when others take the time to learn about us.

Question 48

When establishing an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, do not call the interviewee by first name or nickname.

Question 49

If you want the interview to be spontaneous, provide the questions to the interviewee prior to and interview broadcast.

Question 50

According to Pat Stith, most people follow "to be honest," with a lie.

Question 51

When an interviewer is equal, then rapport is more easily established.

Question 52

Journalist Pat Stith writes that, "some of the best stuff you're going to get will come in the last few minutes, when you're wrapping up the interview…"

Question 53

According to Fred Fedler, broadcast interviews often allow for challenging questions.

Question 54

The informational interview is the most common type of interview.

Question 55

Some journalists recommend that research time should be two times the actual interview.

Question 56

Use an informational probe before proceeding to new topics or before closing the interview.

Question 57

Including errors in the final story may damage the future interviews with a person.

Question 58

Be wary of persons who are too eager to be interviewed.

Question 59

A space sequence is helpful when an interview will deal with places.

Question 60

According to Webb and Salancik, interviewers over time are unable to identify distortion in answers.

Question 61

Interviewers tend to ask too few questions.

Question 62

Thomas Berner recommends that if a good question comes up in an answer to another question, ask that question right away.

Question 63

A report about interrogation interviews with insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan noted that successful interrogators were nice to their subjects.

Question 64

Men compared to women tend to talk less.

Question 65

Women interviewees tend to answer questions with assertions.