Youth Civic Engagement in Local Government
End-of-term Youth Interview Questions (individual or group interview)
Hi:
My name is ___________ I am conducting interviews as part of a program supported by
University of Wisconsin-Extension. I would like to ask you some questions that will help us
understand your perspective about resources the value of the program we are working on. We
will not connect your name to your answers and you will not be individually identified in any
report prepared. We will add your ideas and perspectives to others we interview to help us better
understand and develop this Extension program. It is up to you whether you wish to be
interviewed. A copy of our Human Subject Protection Statement is on file in the UWEX Provost
and Vice Chancellor’s Office at 432 N. Lake St., WI 53706. Your participation in this interview
implies your consent to participate. Thanks for helping us out. Shall I continue?
Which board(s) or committee(s) did you sit on? Describe your involvement on the
board/committee. Probe for names of committee, topics, other membership.
What role did you take?
How was that different from what the adults did?
What was it like? What was most interesting about the experience?
What’s the most important thing you learned?
What things did you do for the first time?
How were you selected?
Why were you interested?
Did the experience meet your expectations?
How were you prepared for the experience? Was this preparation sufficient? What more would
you have like to know?
How did the board help you be comfortable, prepared?
Did any particular person help out? What did they do?
Did you feel welcome to participate in discussions, ask questions…?
Give examples of discussions you were a part of.
Have you gotten to know any adults who can help you in the future? (probe for jobs, solving
political issues, education) Give examples, if any, of how they have helped you so far…
What barriers did you encounter?
Do you feel like you made an impact on discussions?
Are the adults willing to listen?
Are they willing to be influenced by youth?
Did you or other youth make motions? Did you express agreement or disagreement?
Were you involved in discussions outside of the meetings with other youth, parents, teachers…?
gathering input into decisions,
bringing attention to issues in the community.
Overall, how did having youth on the board make a difference?
Should other counties bring youth onto committees?
Would you tell your friends they should be part of this?
Who would be the best youth representatives—how could we recruit them?
Do you have any suggestions for improving the program? For the adults on the committee? For
future youth members? For training, recruiting…?