Interviewing Tips

           You are being asked to participate in a project that will save an important part of history as it is unfolding.  However, the people to whom you will be speaking have been traumatized and may be in various stages of shock.  Therefore, in order to gather this information you will need to be especially sensitive and understanding of their

needs.  Some may be hesitant to speak, and yet it might be therapeutic for them to talk. You must be able to impress on them the need to record their important moments in this disaster for future generations.  You will need to progress slowly on this project and be flexible enough so that you will make your subject comfortable.  The following is a suggested course of action . . . but be prepared to try to make everyone involved comfortable with the project.

            1. Plan to do the interview in at least two trips to the J. K. Northway Coliseum, located in Kleberg Park south of Kingsville.  Depending on your personality and the personality of the person you are interviewing, it might take more than two trips.  But, try to limit the time so that you and they do not feel over burdened by the experience.  The first trip should be to find the person you will interview and to find an area where you can comfortably talk to your person.  Depending on your personality, walk up to a group or to an individual, introduce yourself and explain your project.  You are there to record their interpretation of this historic event.

            2. When you find someone who is willing to talk, take them to a quite place in the arena area and begin a preliminary interview without a tape recorder.  Be careful to not let your person start telling you his/her  story until you have the recorder.  Use the time to get to know them and to allow them to get to know you.  Develop rapport: a harmonious and sympathetic relationship.  They will feel more comfortable with you if you share something about yourself. DO NOT dwell on yourself, but give them some small detail about you and in exchange they will tell you more about themselves.

            3. Review the biographical data sheet, the consent forms, and the possible questions you might ask.  Agree on the questions that you will ask but allow flexibility so that if they decide to tell you more when you are actually interviewing the person, it will not upset you.  On your second visit, when the tape recorder is going, it is important for you to do a minimal amount of talking.  Therefore, your questions must be worded in a way so that they cannot answer with one or two words.  You will ask, “open ended questions.”  Ask “essay type questions” not “short answer questions.”  Ask them to “describe . . . ?“ “What was it like . . . ?“  “How did you feel . . . ?” Fill out the forms with them.  When you return, have the forms typed and ready for their signatures.

            4. Agree on a time and place to meet for the interview.  Either make two copies of the questions while you are agreeing on the questions, or plan to leave a copy of the questions for them before the interview.  But, leave space for the person being interviewed to add or subtract any questions with which they do not feel comfortable.