· Tell me more

· Why do you feel that way?

· Why was that important to you?

· How did that affect you?

· Can you explain what you mean by that?

· What was your contribution?

· What do you think was really making it work?

· How has it changed you?

Quite obviously, and in general, try asking open ended questions where the informants can explain and explore the topic of interest.

One common "template" for semi-structure interview is the funnel forma, which divides the interviewing into three segments. The first asks broad, general questions to learn the participants' perspectives on your topic. The second asks more researcher-oriented, target questions to hear their responses to what interests you. The third is a brief wrap-up question to give the interview a sense of completion.

Introductory textbooks on qualitative interviewing are a good source of sample interview guides, I recommend Rubin & Rubin, Qualitative Interviewing (2nd ed.): The Art of Hearing Data.

Example Questions

1. Introductory Questions:

• Can you describe your background and experience related to topic?

• What motivated you to participate in this study/project?

2. Focused Questions:

• How do you approach specific task/process?

• What challenges have you faced in area of interest and how did you overcome them?

3. Follow-Up/Probing Questions:

• Can you elaborate on that point?

• Why do you think that approach worked/didn’t work?

4. Closing Questions:

• Is there anything else you’d like to share about topic?

• Do you have any questions for me regarding this interview?

This structure ensures flexibility while maintaining a clear focus on the research objectives