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Harvey: Article Analysis

Decent Essays

The goal of the article was to provide scholars and amateur interviewers advice and insight into the practice. The author Harvey is represented as an expert in this subject as Harvey has conducted interviews of elites for most of his academic and professional life. Harvey gives the reader insight on: gaining trust of the interviewee, how to conduct the interview, and managing the interviewee. The article begins by defining what is considered an elite interviewee, and the varying degrees between an elite and an ultra elite. Harvey cites multiple references that determine what makes a interviewee an elite and ultra elite. These references use the amount of power one possesses within a group to make this determination. However, as Harvey points out job titles …show more content…

Additionally, Harvey makes an argument for the type of questions and the sequence of those questions. Close-ended questions restrict the answer on behalf of the elite. This does not give the elite the opportunity to explain their reasoning, nor their thought process. This question type provides qualitative data. Closed-ended question provides qualitative data in some cases. The interviewer is typically in search of both data sets. To achieve both, the sequencing is important to not upset the interviewee and achieve the goals of the interviewer. Tough and very personal questions are also recommended to be asked during the middle of the interview. This gives the interviewee time to relax and the relationship with the interviewee to be established. The final point made by Harvey is the format of the interview. Interviews can be conducted face-to-face, over the phone, or through a questionnaire. Each has their respective strengths and weaknesses. Face-to-face interviews provide the opportunity to analyze body language, and tone among other visual cues. However, the interviewee is restricted by timing and geographical constraints.

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