PS6001 & PS6008: Interviews

Dr Suzanne Stewart
(s.stewart@chester.ac.uk)

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Aim:
To understand what is
involved in the
interview assessment
and how best to prepare
for it

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1. Interviews and module
housekeeping
2. Interviews overview
3. Structure and content of the
interview
4. Interview question information
5. Tips and advice

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Part 1:
Interview and module housekeeping

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 We are here to help!
• All staff in the Department are here to support you in getting the
best possible outcome

• Academic support – draft reading, module queries, research

methods workshops and support sessions

• Pastoral support – PAT, Student Support (Student Services)

• If you are struggling, please ask for help and support

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Module Schedule Reminder: Analysis workshops
• Only attend the workshop(s) that you need for your project
• Some topics are repeated – you only need to attend once

• Sign up in advance for the relevant workshop(s). Space in the computer labs is
limited so you must sign up.
• Quantitative design and analysis tile
• Qualitative design and analysis tile

• You may see some (but not all) workshops on your timetable, and these may be
quant. or qual. or both!
• You may attend any workshop that you need to, regardless of your timetable, but
you must sign up in advance

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Quantitative workshops
• DETAILS ON MOODLE PAGE (including scheduler and locations)

• Monday 5 December, 3:00 - 5:00 PM – Measurement / Factor analysis

• Tuesday 6 December, 1:00 - 3:00 PM – Correlation / Regression
• Wednesday 7 December, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Data preparation

• Tuesday 3 January, 9:00 -11:00 AM – ANOVA / t-tests

• Monday 9 January, 1:30 -3:30 PM– Measurement/ Factor analysis

• Monday 9 January, 3:30 - 5:30 PM – Correlation / Regression

• Monday 16 January, 1:00 - 3:00 PM – ANOVA / t-tests

• Monday 16 January, 5:30 - 7:30 PM – Correlation / regression
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Qualitative workshops

• DETAILS ON MOODLE PAGE (including scheduler and locations)

• Tuesday 10 January, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM – Thematic analysis

• Tuesday 10 January, 4:00 - 6:00 PM – Content analysis

• Tuesday 17 January, 9:00 - 11:00 AM – Thematic analysis

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Departmental stats and qual. support sessions
• Support sessions are a departmental resource (not specific to PS6001
& PS6008)
• Your supervisor needs to refer you for help related to your dissertation
data
• Stats surgeries: Kevin R. and Pizza
• Qual. surgeries: Janine and Brooke
• See Moodle page for further details

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 Schedule reminder: Interview dates
• Interviews will take place w/c 23 & 30 January
• POSSIBLE DATES – YOU MUST KEEP THESE FREE UNTIL THE SCHEDULE IS PUBLISHED:
• Monday 23rd January: 9:30-11:00 AND 3:00-4:30
• Tuesday 24th January: 9:30-12:30
• Wednesday 25th January: 9:30-11:00
• Thursday 26th January: 9:30-11:00

• Monday 30th January: 9:30-4:30 (11-1 NOT Forensic students)

• Tuesday 31st January: 9:30-12:30
• Wednesday 1st February: 10:00-1:00
• Thursday 2nd February: 9:30-11:00
• You must keep these times free until you are notified of your interview day and time
(likely to be around 10 January, give or take) 11
What if I’m ill etc. on the day?
• If you become unwell and cannot attend the interview, please notify
your supervisor and one of the module leaders as soon as possible

• If you have exceptional circumstances, you can apply to defer (but

remember you will need to submit independent evidence)

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 Module Schedule Reminder

• Your supervisor will provide feedback on one version of a full draft

• Ensure you are aware of the deadline your supervisor has set

• Deadline for supervisors to give feedback to you is 30 March

• See module handbook for detailed guidance on drafts

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Project management - review your progress
• Meet with supervisor to plan your time
• Research plans change over time – update plan and create realistic
timetable
• Will you need to use your contingency plan?
• Work on tasks in parallel when possible

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Part 2:
Interviews Overview

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Key details of interview
• Worth 10% of overall module mark
• Two members of staff marking
• You will be informed of your slot via the Moodle space
• IPs will be followed where relevant
• Deferrals only; no extensions allowed

• The interview is a separate component of the module – not

optional. Need get mark of at least 20% in all components to pass
the module
• Please ensure you turn up to the interview!
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Key details of interview

• Interview will be as close to 10 minutes as possible

• Markers will time the interview

• Marked by two members of staff

• One of these members of staff is usually the student’s supervisor

• All staff use the same, detailed marking criteria to mark interviews,
so no disadvantage if not marked by own supervisor

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 Audience expectations
• Your supervisor (or first marker) will have selected appropriate
questions for your project

• The second marker is not necessarily familiar with your area

• You should imagine you are at a job interview and tailor your answers
to an informed/educated but non-academic audience
• For example, ensure you define key terms or explain key components of theory
you refer to

• The markers may ask you to clarify your answer if they have not
understood
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What’s the point?
• The interview is aimed to assess your “big picture” understanding
• How your detailed choices around topic, questions/hypotheses, and methods
work together to achieve your research goals.

• This is to help you think about the “narrative” of your project and to
help you plan and structure your final dissertation report

• Also intended to help you build employability skills

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Employability skills

• Practice at an interview (but with people you know)

• Feedback on your interview style and technique

• Thinking on your feet

• Communication with different audiences

• Generalisable to other contexts including team meetings, leading

training, etc.
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Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of relevant research literature.

2. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the theoretical and

methodological issues arising in the research topic area.

4. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues relating to conducting a

piece of psychological research.

5. Verbally demonstrate a critical understanding of relevant research

literature, methods and study design.
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Preparation
• You may not ask your supervisor for a practice interview. They will
discuss the six broad areas of questioning with you but will not give
you an idea of possible questions.

• If you have questions, you can ask your supervisor or one of the
module leaders

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Marking criteria

• Full marking criteria are on the Moodle sites (Assessment

guidance)

• Marked on:
• Knowledge content – understanding of field
• Communication style – critical analysis, evaluation
• Interview communication skills

• Your mark is not dependent on whether you have results.

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Grade Degree Knowledge Content
Class
90 - 1 Work produced could hardly be bettered when produced under parallel conditions
100
80 – 89 1 Extremely thorough coverage.
Responses grounded in detailed,
extensive, independent reading.
Insightful level of detail to content.
Extremely comprehensive content.
70 - 79 1 Thorough coverage. Responses well
supported by detailed independent
reading. Excellent level of detail to
content. Very comprehensive
content.
60 - 69 2 i Wide coverage. Responses based
on thorough, independent reading.
Good level of detail to content.
Most responses are
comprehensive.
50 – 59 2 ii Reasonable coverage. Responses
based on adequate, independent
reading. Adequate level of detail to
content. Some underdeveloped
responses.
Communication Style (critical evaluation,
argument, understanding)
Clear, pervasive, and thorough evidence of
analysis and evaluation of scholarly sources;
thorough and insightful critical evaluation of
links between theory, aims, and methods.
Insightful evaluation of specific challenges.
Pervasive evidence of analysis and
evaluation of scholarly sources; good,
insightful critical evaluation of links
between theory, aims, and methods.
Thoughtful evaluation of specific challenges.
Good evidence of analysis and evaluation of
scholarly sources, critical evaluation of links
between theory, aims, and methods.
Evaluation of specific challenges.
Some evidence of analysis and evaluation of
scholarly sources; some critical evaluation
of links between theory, aims, and methods.
Some evaluation of specific challenges.
Interview Communication Skills
Enthusiastic, engaging explanations
tailored for a lay audience. In depth
and well structured responses.
Engaging use of gesturing, eye contact,
facial expressions, etc.
Explanations thoroughly tailored for a
lay audience. In depth and logical
responses. Excellent use of gesturing,
eye contact, facial expressions, etc.
Explanations appropriate for a lay
audience. In depth, orderly responses.
Good use of gesturing, eye contact,
facial expressions, etc.
Explanations mostly appropriate for a
lay audience. Most responses made in
sufficient depth. Adequate use of
gesturing, eye contact, facial
expressions, etc.
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How did students last year do?
• Mean = 67.97 (8.76)
• Median = 68

• 1sts = 44.2%
• 2.1s = 40.4%
• 2.2s = 14.4%
• 3rds = 1.0%
• No fails

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Marks and feedback
• The markers will make their main notes and agree your mark
immediately after your interview finishes

• We hope to have the marks and feedback in the week after the
interviews are completed
• You will receive an email via the Moodle space to confirm availability

• You will need to meet with your supervisor to receive your mark and
feedback

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Part 3:
Structure and content of the interview

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How will it run?
• You will be given an arrival time and a location.
• You must be punctual.
• Your interview will start as soon as the interviewers are ready for you.

• Please wait quietly until you are called in by the interviewers.

• You should expect to stay up to 30 minutes after your arrival time.

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 How will it run?
• Your supervisor will welcome you and give you a brief reminder of how the interview
will proceed.

• The second marker will check your notes for adherence to guidelines (more in a moment).

• The second marker will ask you the questions – your supervisor will have previously
planned which questions are appropriate for your project.

• Your supervisor will time the interview.

• The markers will only take a minimum of notes during your interview.
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Notes
• You can bring notes but you are not required to do so
• If you bring notes, you do not have to use them

• Your notes must be no more than ONE side of A4

• This will be strictly enforced

• Your notes must be on hard copy only so they can be checked easily

• If you have an IP with relevant adjustments, please see your supervisor

for advice

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Notes
• The format is up to you! For example…
• Typed and printed
• Handwritten
• Bullet points
• Mind map
• Citation info

• Think VERY carefully about what will be helpful

• Plan in advance
• Practice with different formats if you’re not sure what’s best
• Discuss it with your supervisor

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Notes – Important words of advice
• DON’T try to cram as much as you can on your side of A4!
• Don’t use a tiny font
• Don’t use single spacing
• Don’t use narrow margins

• If you have to SEARCH and READ your notes during your interview,
you will be distracted and your notes will be a HINDRANCE!

• If you use notes, they should be there only as a prompt and you
should be able to check them quickly and easily

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Important policies
• Academic Integrity

• Exceptional circumstances

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Part 4:
Interview question information

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Six broad areas for questioning
1. Your project’s background and design
2. Why your project is worthwhile to research – its justification
3. The link between your project and its background theoretical and
methodological issues
4. Why should other people interested in your project
5. What applications your project might have, and/or what may be
learned about human behaviour from your project
6. Ethical and practical challenges

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 Questions
• Assessment brief (including broad areas for questioning) was
developed by Suzanne and approved by Liz (programme leader),
assessment board, and the external examiners

• Interview question bank was developed by a working group of seven

of the supervisors who represented a variety of research areas and
methodological techniques
• External examiners approved the question bank

• The question bank contains 40 questions spread across the six areas
• You will not be asked all 40 questions!
• You should be prepared to answer questions from all six areas
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Questions
• No two interviews will be exactly the same
• Supervisor will ensure that your questions are appropriate for your project
• All interviews will last approximately ten minutes
• The number of questions that can be asked in ten minutes will vary
slightly from student to student
• Different projects require different information to be communicated
• You are being marked on your overall discussion of your project within
the time, not the number of questions you can get through

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1. Your project’s background and design
• Key parts of the literature?
• Key theories
• Seminal studies
• Key themes, questions, gaps

• Justifying your overall quantitative or qualitative approach

• Why did you decide on different parts of your project?

• Your hypotheses/questions?
• Your particular methods?
• Your analysis strategy?
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2. Why is your project worthwhile – its justification?

• What is special or novel about your project?

• What do you like about it? What attracted you to the project?
• How does your project fit in with the area/ background?
• How does your methodology fit in with the area?
• How have you developed – what have you gained through doing your
project?

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3. The link between your project and its background
theoretical and methodological issues

• How are key theories/frameworks in the area relevant to your project?

• Can you critically evaluate those theories/frameworks – what works or
doesn’t work about them? (pros/cons)
• Can you critically evaluate the methodology that tends to be used in
your area?
• Can you critically evaluate your own methodological choices?
(pros/cons)
• What could be done differently to examine your
hypotheses/questions?
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4. Why should other people be interested in your
project?
• What are the interesting parts of your project?
• Why should other people want to know about your work?
• What audiences/ groups/ people might be interested in your project?
• How is your project relevant outside of academia?

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5. What applications your project might have and/or
what may be learned about human behaviour from your
project?
• What area(s) outside of academia can your project apply to?
• What are the applications of your project?
• Can your project be potentially used to help or improve the lives of
people (or animals)?
• How might your project change the evidence base of the area
(background literature)?
• Why might your findings be important?
• What could other scientists do with your findings?

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6. Ethical and practical challenges

• What are the key ethical issues for your project?

• What are you doing to execute your project in an ethical way?
• The impact of ethics on your project decisions?
• Skills gained or developed through your project?
• What have you done to manage your project competently?
• Any issues with carrying out your project?

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Responding to questions
• If you don’t understand the question, you can ask for the question to
be re-worded

• Yes, you should back up your answer with scholarly evidence where
relevant
• Similar to an exam – give as much citation information as you can remember
• You should already be very familiar with the literature from your presentation
and from working on your introduction

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Responding to questions
• Take your time and don’t rush

• Ensure you give a complete answer

• Give an appropriate level of detail to answer the question (i.e., not too
much, not too little)

• It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to manage your time for each answer

and ensure you aren’t responding excessively
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Responding to questions
• Respond CRITICALLY to all questions (key Level 6 skill)
• Demonstrate evaluation and analysis in responding to what you are being asked

EXERCISE:
• Take turns answering these questions with your neighbour (or write down
your answers if you prefer):
• What are the interesting parts of your project?
• What do you like about it? What attracted you to the project?
• Skills gained or developed through your project?

• Try to answer these questions as critically as you can!

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Part 5:
Tips and advice

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What makes a good interview? Discuss!

• In your experience, what are the qualities of good and bad interviews?

• Your own experience (if you have some)?

• Interviews you’ve seen on the television?

• What do you need to be aware of in speaking to a non-academic

audience?

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Aim for clarity
• Lay audience – not experts

• Aim for clarity

• Explain key terms and theories
• Use specific examples to illustrate your point
• Take a moment to structure your answer
• Gauge the reaction of your interviewers

• Aim for an appropriate level of detail

• Answer the question completely but not excessively
• Use appropriate examples
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Being an engaging interviewee

• Enthusiasm!
• Always remember why you’re interested in the topic – what makes you
excited about it?

• Engaging use of gesture, eye contact, facial expressions, tone of

voice
• Do you have a friend or relative who’s a good storyteller? Why is that?
What is it that they do so well?

• Take a moment to structure your answer logically; don’t rush

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How should I prepare?
• Use the feedback from your presentation
• Discuss the six broad areas with your supervisor
• Work on your Introduction and Methods sections
• Work through the six broad areas and the suggestions in previous
slides
• Adapt your strategies for unseen exams and presentations
• Familiarise yourself with the learning outcomes and marking criteria

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How should I prepare?

• Watch interviews (news programmes, YouTube) – note good points

and bad points

• Practise with a friend or family member

• Lots of advice on the internet (use search terms like “job interview,”
“interview advice,” “oral exam,” and “viva”)

• Links to helpful sites on Moodle pages under “Interviews further

guidance”
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Managing nerves
• We understand and can offer help & support! Let us!

• The interview is treated as any other assessment re: mitigating

circumstances (deferrals), inclusion plans etc.

• Almost everyone is nervous about interviews!

• Learning relaxation/breathing techniques can help

• Dress in whatever way will help you feel confident

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Overcoming nerves
• Careful preparation – have confidence in what you are saying –
you’re the expert on your project!
• Practise!
• With a friend or a family member
• Or even coming up with possible questions and saying your answers
out loud
• Meet with your supervisor
• Bring some water
• Remember, everyone is nervous. Everyone is in the same
position.

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 Key things to remember

• Interviews will be as close to 10 minutes as possible

• Prepare in advance
• Practise with a friend or family member
• Aim for clarity – logical progression of ideas, clearly expressed
• Be critical, and draw on relevant literature
• Use feedback from presentation and supervision meetings
• This is a great opportunity for transferable skills development!
• This is a great opportunity for feedback!

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Resources

• Detailed information in the module handbook and assessment brief

• Moodle page links
• Lots of advice online (including YouTube)
• Your supervisor
• Your friends/family

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