Summary
Regardless of the structure used, the three major parts of an interview are an opening, the body, and the closing section (Seidman, 2019). The opening makes the respondent feel welcomed and indicates the objectives of the research. The body lists the questions based on the themes, and the closing summarizes the main issues, discusses the next course of action, and thanks you for the respondent’s participation.
Hello, my names are Student XYZ, and I am a member of ABC University. I am involved in research about retention issues related to social skills in Ghanian Universities. I want to ask you some questions on the topic, and I hope you are comfortable speaking about your experiences.
Research Question 1
- What are the lived experiences of university students in Ghana as they relate to social development skills in higher education?
- How would you describe your social skills when communicating with fellow students and teachers?
- How would you evaluate the transition from secondary school to higher education in relation to your social skills?
- How would you describe your social life before and after joining the higher education institution?
- Have you felt supported and encouraged by teachers and fellow students?
- Are you a frequent attendant and participant in extracurricular activities?
- Do you believe informal interactions to be essential factors within your experience as a student?
Research Question 2
- What are the lived experiences of university students in Ghana surrounding decisions to leave or stay in school?
- Have you noticed your social life negatively influences your academic performance regarding motivation or information retention?
- Have you been in a situation when you felt unmotivated to attend school due to personal reasons?
- Do you find difficulties in interacting with teachers if you need assistance, an explanation of a topic, or a clarification of a subject discussed in class?
- Have you ever experienced discouragement in attending classes because of conflicts or anxiety related to fellow students and teachers?
I appreciate the time you created for this interview. If there is anything else you think I should know, don’t hesitate to contact me. With this, I think I have everything I need. Would it be appropriate to call you if I have any more questions? Thanks again for your time.
References
Seidman, I. (2019). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. Teachers College Press.