Assignment 5: Appraisal Interview Assignment
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to give each student the opportunity to improve his/her
skills in an appraisal interview. This goal will be achieved by critiquing the classroom
and group behavior of a classmate.
Procedures
The procedures for this project are detailed on a day-by-day schedule below:
Preparations for Day 1
Two basic documents need to be prepared for the next class period:
1. Develop a set of criteria to evaluate the classroom and group behavior of ANY
classmate.
2. Construct a research interview guide based on the criteria. (Remember step 1 is
using the 6 planning strategies)
Day 1 (activities should take about 10 minutes)
3. Divide into groups of three.
4. Designate a person “A”, person “B”, and person “C” within the group.
5. There will be 3 rounds of interviewing according to this schedule:
Person
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
A
ER
Observer
EE
B
EE
ER
Observer
C
Observer
EE
ER
6. The EE should give the respective ER a list of five people to interview. (Include
phone numbers and e-mail addresses.) You will only need to actually interview 3.
7. Agree upon some method so that all interviews will be tape-recorded.
Preparation for Day 2
8. The ER should use his/her research interview guide to interview the EE’s
colleagues.
9. The ER should prepare an appraisal interview guide.
10. The ER should e-mail his/her EE some preparation for the appraisal interview
(i.e., such as a form to complete).
11. Observers should develop some method for systematically analyzing the
interview according to the principles discussed in class and the book. Remember,
one of the basic purposes of this exercise is to provide specific feedback to the ER
and the EE. Be sure to mention both the positive as well as the negative.
Day 2
12. Conduct rounds 1,2 and 3 according to this schedule:
a. 20 minutes interview
b. 5 minutes: oral critique
 observer analyzes ER’s interviewing technique
 observer and ER evaluate EE’s interviewing style
Preparations for Day 3
13. Observers prepare a 1 - 2 page critique of the interview including both positives
and negatives (“areas of improvement”). The report should include specific
communication recommendations for the EE. The major focus should be on the
ER’s style. Make 3 copies of your critique--1 for the professor and 1 each for the
ER and EE. You may also include a critique of the assignment.
14. Analyze the cassette tape when you were the ER. Prepare a 1-page critique of
your own interview style.
Day 3
15. The following items are to be prepared in a professional form and handed in for
grading:
 your research gathering interview guide (& planning strategies)
 your summary of the research gathering interview results
 the form you asked the EE to prepare before the appraisal interview
 your appraisal interview guide (& planning strategies)
 your critique as the observer (step 13)
 your critique of your own interviewing style as ER (step 14)
 a brief analysis of what learned about yourself as EE