How To Cite An Interview

Why Citing Interviews Matters

Interviews can offer unique, firsthand perspectives that enrich research. Whether you're quoting a renowned expert, a participant in a study, or even a family member for a personal project, giving credit where it's due is non-negotiable. Proper citation demonstrates your research thoroughness, acknowledges the interviewee's contribution, and allows your readers to locate the source themselves. Misattributing or failing to cite an interview can lead to accusations of plagiarism, undermining your credibility. Different academic disciplines and publication venues adhere to specific citation styles, so understanding these nuances is key.

Key Information Needed for Citation

Before you can cite an interview, you need to gather specific details. The exact information required can vary slightly depending on the citation style, but generally, you'll need:

• The name of the interviewee.
• The date the interview took place.
• The location of the interview (if relevant and known, e.g., city, specific room, or online platform).
• The medium of the interview (e.g., personal, phone, email, video call, published transcript, radio, television).
• If published, the title of the publication or program, and its publisher or broadcast details.
• If unpublished, information about where the interview can be accessed (e.g., personal archive, university library collection).

MLA Style: Citing Interviews

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is common in the humanities. MLA distinguishes between interviews you conducted yourself and those that have been published.

Personal Interviews (MLA)

For interviews you conducted personally, the citation focuses on the interviewee, the interview's nature, and the date. The format is generally:

Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. Interview by [Your Name]. Date of interview. Medium of interview. (e.g., Personal interview, Phone interview, Email interview).

In your text, you would refer to the interviewee by their last name. For instance: "According to Smith, the project's success was largely due to team collaboration (Smith)." If you've interviewed multiple people with the same last name, you might need to include their first name in the parenthetical citation.

Published Interviews (MLA)

If the interview has been published (in a book, journal, magazine, or online), you'll cite it like other published works. The format often resembles citing an article or chapter:

Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. Interview [title of interview, if applicable]. Interview by [Interviewer's Name, if known and relevant]. Title of Publication, Publication Date, page numbers. Or, for online sources: URL.

APA Style: Citing Interviews

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is prevalent in social sciences. APA's approach to interviews is quite specific, especially regarding personal communications.

Personal Interviews (APA)

APA considers interviews that are not recorded or retrievable by the reader as 'personal communications.' These are cited only in the text, not in the reference list. The format in the text is:

(Interviewee's Initial(s). Last Name, personal communication, Month Day, Year)

Crucially, APA emphasizes that personal communications should only be used when essential and when the reader cannot access the information elsewhere. If the interview is recorded and you plan to share it, or if it's part of a larger, accessible collection, it would be cited differently.

Published Interviews (APA)

Published interviews are treated like other published sources. The format in the reference list typically includes the interviewee, the date, the title of the interview (if it has one), and the source information.

Interviewee's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Interview title (if applicable). Interview by [Interviewer's Name, if known]. In Publication Title (pp. page numbers). Publisher. Or, for online sources: URL.

Chicago Style: Citing Interviews

The Chicago Manual of Style offers two systems: notes-bibliography and author-date. We'll focus on the notes-bibliography system, which is common in history and literature.

Personal Interviews (Chicago Style)

For personal interviews, Chicago requires a note and an entry in the bibliography. The note provides the most detail.

Note format: 1. Interviewee's First Name Last Name, [type of interview, e.g., interviewed by, phone interview with], Month Day, Year. (Location, if relevant).

Bibliography format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. [Type of interview, e.g., Interviewed by, Phone interview with] [Your Name]. Month Day, Year. (Location, if relevant).

If the interview is recorded or transcribed and accessible, you would include that information in the citation.

Published Interviews (Chicago Style)

Published interviews are cited similarly to articles or book chapters, depending on the source.

Note format: 1. Interviewee's First Name Last Name, "Title of Interview (if any)," [interviewed by Interviewer's Name, if known], Publication Title, Publication Date, page number(s). Or for online: URL.

Bibliography format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview (if any)." [Interviewed by Interviewer's Name, if known]. Publication Title, Publication Date, page number(s). Or for online: URL.

Checklist for Citing Interviews

• Identify the citation style required (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
• Determine if the interview is personal (conducted by you, not readily accessible) or published.
• Gather all necessary details: interviewee's name, date, medium, location, publication details (if applicable).
• Consult the specific style guide for the correct format for your type of interview and medium.
• Format your in-text citations and bibliography/reference list entries accurately.
• Ensure consistency throughout your document.
• Double-check that you have permission to use and cite the interview, especially if it contains sensitive information.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Students often stumble on interview citations. A frequent mistake is treating a personal interview the same way as a published one. Another common issue, particularly with APA, is including personal communications in the reference list when they should only appear in the text. Forgetting to include the interviewer's name when it's relevant, or misrepresenting the medium (e.g., calling an email interview a 'personal interview' without qualification), can also cause problems. Always verify the exact requirements of your chosen style guide; they can be quite detailed.

Conclusion

Citing interviews correctly is a vital skill that enhances the credibility and transparency of your work. By understanding the specific requirements of MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, and by carefully gathering the necessary information, you can ensure your citations are accurate and complete. Whether you're referencing a conversation you had last week or a published Q&A from a reputable source, proper attribution is key to academic integrity.