APA format for conversation

• Work
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• Job Interviews
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• Conducting Interviews

When writing an in-depth article, paper or other written work, it may be necessary to interview others to get more information. How to include the contents of the interview varies depending on the style guide you follow for your writing. When using American Psychological Association (APA) style, your interview should either be cited as personal communication or recorded in detail in your text. The APA interview writing format has specific rules for how to write an interview paper.

The APA format for interviews expects you to explain the clear purpose of your interview. You should not use an interview for information that can be obtained elsewhere, such as publications or online sources. Before your interview, you should be familiar with the background literature and have clear, concise questions prepared.

Example:

Published research does not include a detailed or frank discussion of patient reporting bias in emergency medicine.

Introduce the subject of your interview in-text, describing her qualifications, background and why she is suitable to answer your questions.

Example:

I contacted Jane Jones, M.D., Ph.D., for a knowledgeable discussion of patient reporting bias. Dr. Jones is an expert in the field, having practiced for 15 years and published high-profile research studies that accounted for patient reporting bias.

Present the question you asked the interviewee when explaining her response in the text of your paper. This is important to provide the context in which the interviewee presented fact or opinion. Be clear whether the question was open-ended or close-ended.

Example:

To assess the methods used to correct for reporting bias, I asked Dr. Jones via telephone, What are the steps you used in your research to account for reporting bias? I also asked her to discuss other biases that need to be accounted for in observational studies.

Use quotes, rather than paraphrasing, when citing specific information and facts given by the interviewee. A quote longer than 40 words should be set aside as a block quote, according to APA style.

Example:

Dr. Jones answered, My primary method for correcting reporting bias is a carefully constructed questionnaire in lieu of a free-form patient interview.

A longer discussion of other biases should be set aside in a block quote.

When citing sources using the APA interview format, you must always include an in-text citation in parentheses. The citation must be included directly after a quote or paraphrased text, and include the first initial of the person interviewed, last name, personal communication and date the interview took place.

Example:

My primary method for correcting reporting bias is a carefully constructed questionnaire in lieu of a free-form patient interview. (J. Jones, personal communication, April 9, 2018).

If you mention the interviewee in the text introducing the quote or paraphrased text, their name doesnt need to be included in the in-text citation.

Example:

Dr. Jones contends that a questionnaire allows for more honesty and accuracy in reporting (personal communication, April 9, 2018).

APA interview format does not require a reference to the interview in your reference list since it is not a source that can be found by another person.