QUESTION TEMPLATE
Karnas/Murray/O’Reilly
The following is a sample of some general questions to consider in your interview. Depending on who
you interview you might not focus on all of these areas. Keep in mind that you will need to develop
your follow up questions based on who you are interviewing and you will have to personalize your
questions before handing them in.
IINTRODUCTION
1. Thank you for agreeing to help us with our project. We are hoping to ask you some questions about
your life in order to find out what it was like when you were growing up. Can we begin?
2. Where and when did you grow up?
3. Can you tell me a little about your childhood and what it was like?
4. When did you attend high school? What was your experience in high school like?
5. When & Where did you attend college? What was your experience in college like?
COLD WAR
6. In class we have talked a lot about Communism & The Cold War. Can I ask you about what you
remember about these topics?
a. During your life in the 50’s & 60’s do you recall any of the Cold War Fears?
i. Specific follow-up questions about political/cultural/economic issues of that time period
1. Do any specific events stand out in your memory?
2. What did you think about communism at this time? Were you/family/friends
afraid of communism? Have your views changed?
3. Do you remember ever being scared of nuclear warfare? Can you tell me about
this?
4. What did you think about how our presidents handled the issue of the Cold War?
5. Do you remember when America landed a man on the moon?
6. Do you remember anything about the American & Soviet technological
competition into space? (Sputnik? Apollo missions to the moon? Etc) What did
you/friends/family think about these events?
7. Were these topics (Korean War, Sputnik, McCarthy, Domino Theory, etc)
discussed in class/at work?
8. How did you feel about these topics (Korean War, Sputnik, McCarthy, Domino
Theory, etc) when they were happening?
VIETNAM ERA
7. In class we talked about the Vietnam War. Can I ask some questions about this war?
a. What do you remember about the Vietnam War?
i. Specific follow-up questions about political/cultural/economic issues of that time period
1. Do any specific events stand out in your memory?
2. How did you feel about US involvement in Vietnam? Did your views ever
change? Can you elaborate?
3. What were your family/friends saying about Vietnam?
4. Where did you get your information about these issues? Did you watch the
coverage of the war on TV? What was it like?
5. Did you know anyone who served or was drafted? Can you tell me about this?
6. Did you see any war opposition? Can you explain this?
7. What did you think about Johnson/Nixon and how they handled the conflict?
8. Were these topics discussed in class/at work? How so?
CIVIL RIGHTS & RACE
8. In class we discussed Civil Rights and the struggle for equality. Can I ask you some questions about
race and civil rights?
a. Do you remember hearing about any of the major civil rights issues of the time period? If so, can
you tell me about that?
i. Specific follow-up questions about political/cultural/economic issues of that time period
1. Do any specific events stand out in your memory?
2. Did you see or experience any instances of racism or prejudice in our life? Can
you tell me more about these instances?
3. Did you hear about the civil rights issues of the time? Where did you get your
information about these issues?
4. How did you feel about what was happening?
5. Were these topics discussed in class/at work?
6. What were your family/friends saying about this issue?
7. Did you know anyone involved/affected?
8. Have you seen any changes with regards to how our country perceives race over
the past 50 years or so?
9. Do you remember when MLK Jr. was assassinated? Malcolm X? What were
people saying about this?