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Getting the Most out of Interviewing Experts


Situations where you must use experts

Oftentimes we think we can find out everything about a topic by going to the library or searching the Internet. In a few rare cases this may be true. However, there are many situations where you really must interview experts for research purposes. These reasons include the following:


  • Obscure topic:
    Sometimes the information you need isn't available in books, magazines, statutes, computer databases, or on the Internet.
  • Expert has an unusual slant on a topic:
    Even if you've found information in various resources, it might still be advantageous to find a person or group that has already done it, studied it, or survived whatever you are researching.
  • Complex topic:
    You need understandable explanations for complex processes and ideas.