Key points at a glance
- Build questions from the research question and concepts, not from general curiosity.
- Use a small number of open main questions with neutral follow-ups.
- Pilot the guide and document changes before the main interviews.
- Plan consent, recording, anonymisation, transcription and coding in advance.
Start from the research question
Avoid questions that ask for several things at once or assume a preferred answer. Keep demographic questions limited to what your analysis needs.
Example: “Start from the research question” is on track when the draft shows “Each topic in the guide serves the research question”. The miss to correct is “Writing questions without an analytical purpose”.
Structure a semi-structured guide
A practical guide usually contains an introduction, warm-up, thematic blocks, closing questions and a thank-you. Write main questions in natural language and keep probes separate so you can follow the conversation.
Open questions invite examples and explanations. Neutral probes such as “Can you tell me more?” or “What happened next?” are usually more useful than leading prompts.
| Block | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Opening | consent, recording and context |
| Warm-up | easy entry into the topic |
| Main blocks | evidence for each research dimension |
| Clarification | examples, contrasts and follow-ups |
| Closing | missing points and participant questions |
Pilot, consent and protect participants
Pilot the guide with a suitable person to identify unclear wording, repetition and unrealistic duration. Record what changed and why.
Explain purpose, voluntary participation, recording, withdrawal, storage, anonymisation and publication before the interview. Obtain the required consent and approval before collecting data.
Plan transcription and coding early
Decide what must be transcribed, how speakers are anonymised and which coding approach fits your question. Keep the guide, consent form, transcript key and codebook consistent.
Do not treat the guide as a questionnaire with fixed answers. Follow relevant unexpected topics, but document changes to the interview process and their analytical consequences.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Each topic in the guide serves the research question.
- Questions are open, neutral and understandable to participants.
- The guide was piloted and revised.
- Consent, recording and data protection procedures are approved.
- Duration and recruitment criteria are realistic.
- Transcription and coding decisions are documented.
Common mistakes
- Writing questions without an analytical purpose.
- Using leading, double or judgemental questions.
- Skipping a pilot because the guide looks short.
- Recording participants without clear consent.
- Changing the guide repeatedly without documenting the changes.
Prepare the interview thesis for printing
Once the guide, analysis and anonymised appendix are final, prepare the checked PDF for printing and binding.
View thesis printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions should an interview guide have?
The number depends on topic, depth and interview length. A few strong thematic blocks are usually better than a long checklist that leaves no time for follow-ups.
Should interview questions be identical for everyone?
A semi-structured guide keeps core topics comparable while allowing relevant follow-up questions and participant-specific examples.
Do I need a pilot interview?
A pilot is strongly useful because it exposes unclear wording, timing problems and missing topics before the main sample.
How do I anonymise interview data?
Remove or generalise direct and indirect identifiers according to your approved data-management plan, and keep the key separate and protected.