Interview Guide - Bad and Good Examples
Bad Examples
Good Examples
1. What did it feel like to have a heart attack
Too direct and obvious
2. What happened when you had your heart attack and were you scared?
Two questions in one
3. Why did you want to stay in the hospital?
1. Let’s begin with what you can tell me about your illness – when you
knew you that you were not feeling well.
2. What were the circumstances surrounding your heart attack? Can you
tell me what happened?
3. Tell me more about your hospital experience.
Avoid why questions. They encourage rationalization, rather than experience
4. Are you following the doctor’s orders to take care of yourself?
This is a yes/no question
5. What are the factors of your recovery?
4. Since then, you’ve been in recovery. Tell me about a typical day – what
do you do to take care of yourself?
5. What part of your recovery is going well?
Asking about factors encourages participants to make lists, and the items do not have a depth of response
6. What factors are getting in the way of your recovery?
6. What is the most difficult part about managing your disease?
Asking about factors encourages participants to make lists, and the items do not have a depth of response
7. How do you manage to remember to take your pills?
7. Tell me about how you are managing the medical prescriptions?
Too specific. Ask broad open-ended questions.
8. What’s the most important thing you are doing to help you recover?
8. What are you doing to help yourself recover?
This encourages your participant to think of whatever comes to mind first.
9. Do you feel you are in charge of your recovery?
9. What is your experience of being in charge of your recovery?
Yes/no question
10. How helpful or unhelpful is your family in your recovery
10. Tell me about the role of your family in your recovery.
Two questions in one - confusing
11. How do you like your doctor?
11. Tell me about your relationship with your doctor.
Too broad
12. What do you need to make your recovery go more smoothly?
Too broad
13. Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about your condition or your
recovery?
Two questions in one
12. What support or resource do you think would make your recovery go
more smoothly?
13. Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?
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