Researching Communication In Your Field

Developing Communication-Focused Interview Questions 

Start with general questions about their personal experience. When they began their careers, what did they wish they’d known about fitting in with their new coworkers and in their new workplace? What missteps have they made? What advice would they give novices in their field? 

Then, ask your interviewee about who they spend most of their time listening to, writing to, and speaking with. Coworkers, supervisors, clients, etc.? When, how, and why do they communicate? (Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly? In person, via email, Slack, phone calls? In order to collaborate on a project? Share updates? Understand client needs?) 

Then, shift the focus of the interview to communication challenges by asking more about your interviewee’s interactions with the people they say they communicate with most. Remember that while everyone experiences communication issues, they might not necessarily use the phrase “communication challenge” to describe them. You might want to say “miscommunication” or “communication breakdown” instead. Try requesting specific stories about misunderstandings, trouble being on the same page, and/or situations where interpersonal interactions or relationships seem to go awry.  

Once they’ve described something you find interesting, explore in more detail. Why is this a challenge? How often does it occur? How long has it been affecting your industry? Is the challenge specific to their geographical location, or is it nationwide or global? 

Then, ask about solutions. Follow-up questions might include asking about how they’ve tried to address this issue and whether they were successful.