Cultural Artifact Interview: Reflection

I think I'm probably at my best as an interviewer when I'm already part of the way through the interview. I don't really like working with a pre-written set of questions. I also feel like the best questions and the most genuine answers arise from an interview that is as unrehearsed as you can make it without detracting from your credibility.

During my interview with Jennifer some of my assumptions were correct, and some weren't. I hadn't considered how unique her necklace was actually going to be. In fact, one of the initial assumptions I jotted down was that it 'looked like it might come with matching earrings.' I was under the impression that it was bought from a gift or jewelery store rather than thinking about the possibility that the necklace itself was essentially 'the story.' I don't think it interfered with the interview, though.

I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the actual artifact itself during the interview, either. I focused more on Jennifer, the informant, and let her do most of the description herself. Because of this, I don't have as clear a recollection of the artifact as I do of her answers to my interview questions. I could have asked her to take off the necklace so I could inspect it, or I could have focused my questions around the necklace as an object, rather than the story behind it.