{
    "version" : "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1",
    "content" : "guides",
    "type" : "single",
    "title" : "Step 4: Do your research |Digital.gov",
    "description": "Step 4: Do your research",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cms/news/2024/07/2024-07-02-case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cms/news/2024/07/2024-07-02-case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings/guides/hcd/discovery-concepts/do-research/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"Step 4: Do your research","summary" : "Best practices for conducting interviews","date" : "2023-07-24T09:00:00-05:00","date_modified" : "2024-07-05T22:14:24-04:00","primary_image" : { "uid" : "hcd-discovery-concepts", "alt" :
  "Six people with binoculars look in different directions", "width" :
  "1200", "height" :
  "630", "credit" :
  "Nadezhda Kurbatova/iStock via Getty Images Plus", "caption" :
  "", "format" :
  "png" },"branch" : "cms/news/2024/07/2024-07-02-case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings",
      "filename" :"do-research.md",
      
      "filepath" :"guides/hcd/discovery-concepts/do-research.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/cms/news/2024/07/2024-07-02-case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings/content/guides/hcd/discovery-concepts/do-research.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/cms/news/2024/07/2024-07-02-case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings/content/guides/hcd/discovery-concepts/do-research.md","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cms/news/2024/07/2024-07-02-case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings/guides/hcd/discovery-concepts/do-research/","content" :"\u003ch2 id=\"pair-up\"\u003ePair up\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConduct your research in pairs. Identify the person who will ask questions and the person who will take notes. The interviewer should focus on the interviewee; the notetaker is there to support and document. Introduce yourselves, explain the consent form, and ask the participant to sign it. The notetaker can secure the signed form.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"image\"\u003e\u003cimg\n      src=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-5_w800.png\"alt=\"Decorative\"srcset=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-5_bu.jpg 48w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-5_w1200.png 1200w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-5_w800.png 800w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-5_w400.png 400w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-5_w200.png 200w\"sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 400px\"\n    /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"equipment\"\u003eEquipment\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe equipment for this kind of research is simple and low-tech. Don’t bring your laptop into an interview unless absolutely necessary. And do not use it to take notes. Instead, notes should be hand-written. If you have received consent to capture audio, use a recording device, such as a smartphone. Reserve a quiet, private room or wherever your participant feels comfortable. This may be in the participant’s home, at office, or in a public place of the participant’s choosing. No matter where the interview takes place, try to create a safe, comfortable, and quiet space where your participant can speak honestly about the subject.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"image\"\u003e\u003cimg\n      src=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-6_w800.png\"alt=\"Decorative\"srcset=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-6_bu.jpg 48w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-6_w1200.png 1200w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-6_w800.png 800w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-6_w400.png 400w,https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/hcd-discovery-concepts-6_w200.png 200w\"sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 400px\"\n    /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"prepare-for-the-interview\"\u003ePrepare for the interview\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are some quick tips for the interview:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhenever possible, meet with participants at their home, work, or a place where they feel most themselves, such as their local library or coffee shop.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePack bottled water for you, your participant, and your teammate(s).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBring multiple copies of the Informed Consent Form.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReview your participant information one more time.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTake a moment for yourself, whether in the hallway or interview space, to clear your mind and focus on the interview ahead, before you begin.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArrive early to the interview site.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"lead-the-interview\"\u003eLead the interview\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"be-fluid\"\u003eBe fluid\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterviews should be planned and questions outlined (not scripted). During the interview itself, consider your interview script as a compass that guides you. Feel free to go “off script” or change questions if you feel that will benefit the conversation and research.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"ask-open-ended-questions\"\u003eAsk open-ended questions\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllow participants to answer in their own unique way by asking them easy to follow, open-ended (as opposed to yes-or-no) questions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"use-the-5-whys\"\u003eUse the ‘5 Whys’\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis strategy helps to clarify the conversation when your interviewee speaks in generalities or uses ambiguous words like “fine”. The 5 Whys strategy is to simply ask your interviewee “Why do you say that?” or “What does “fine” mean to you?”. Ask “why” 5 times in a row, building off each of their answers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional ways to get at the 5 Whys include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat experiences motivated you to take part in this project?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow do you feel about that? (Listen for feelings, versus thoughts)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat do you think about that?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTell me about that.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThat’s an interesting thought; can you help me understand what you mean by that?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy do you think that?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"know-when-to-pivot\"\u003eKnow when to pivot\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStay mindful of the situation and purpose. Use what your participant says as direction on where to go in the interview. Ask yourself: Is this part of the conversation informing the challenge or “How Might We” question? Can it inform the question if I continue this line of conversation, or should I redirect my approach? If a participant embarks on an interesting tangent, use your best judgment to surface insights that might inform your research.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"close-the-interview-at-the-right-time\"\u003eClose the interview at the right time\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow long is enough? Tough question. The answer is that you’ll get a better sense of this with practice. You need enough time to build rapport, allow the participant to open up, and share their story.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood interviews can be draining for the participant and for the interview team. It’s important to respect people’s time and wind down the interview in a timely manner. Don’t go over the planned time frame. If an interviewee seems tapped out before the scheduled end, gently close out early. Always thank the person for their time. Provide follow up information as necessary, such as contact details.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"gather-information\"\u003eGather information\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are some quick tips on how to gather information during the interview.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWith pen and notepad in hand, jot down interesting words, phrases, or metaphors. (Interviewer)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePosition yourself at an angle to the participant, so you’re not facing them straight on. (Interviewer)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpeak slowly so as to give yourself time to think. This also helps put your participant at ease. (Interviewer)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf you hear an interesting word used, ask about it, even if you’re not sure where it will lead you. (Interviewer)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBe aware of your interviewee’s tone and body language. Read the signs and pivot if you notice discomfort.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eListen intently, and transcribe the interviewee’s answers verbatim (as possible). Do not paraphrase. Listen for strong or interesting quotes. Mark them for later. (Notetaker)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n"}
  ]
}