Why Citing Interviews Matters

Interviews serve as a rich source of primary data, offering unique insights, personal experiences, and expert opinions that are often unavailable in published materials. Whether you've conducted your own interviews for a research project or are referencing interviews published by others, proper citation is non-negotiable. It not only acknowledges the interviewee's contribution but also allows your readers to locate and verify the source, bolstering the credibility and transparency of your work. Failing to cite correctly can lead to accusations of plagiarism, undermining your academic or professional reputation. This guide will walk you through the nuances of citing interviews in various popular styles.

Key Information Needed for Citation

Before diving into specific style guides, it's essential to gather the necessary information. The exact details required can vary slightly depending on the citation style and whether the interview is published or unpublished, but a core set of elements is almost always needed. Having this information readily available will streamline the citation process significantly.

  • Interviewee's Full Name: The name of the person being interviewed.
  • Interviewer's Full Name: Your name or the name of the person who conducted the interview.
  • Date of Interview: The specific date the interview took place (day, month, year).
  • Location of Interview: Where the interview was conducted (e.g., city, state, or specific institution). If conducted online, the platform might be relevant.
  • Method of Interview: How the interview was conducted (e.g., in-person, phone, email, video call).
  • Title of Interview (if applicable): Some published interviews have titles.
  • Publication Details (if applicable): For published interviews, include the name of the publication, volume, issue number, page numbers, and URL or DOI.
  • Access Information (for unpublished interviews): Details on where the interview can be accessed, such as an archive, personal collection, or specific repository.

Citing Interviews in MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used in the humanities. When citing an interview, MLA focuses on providing enough information for the reader to locate the source. For unpublished interviews you conducted, the citation typically includes the interviewee's name, the fact that it was a personal interview, the date, and how it was conducted.

MLA Citation for an Unpublished Interview You Conducted

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Personal interview. Date of interview. (e.g., 15 Apr. 2023). Example: Smith, Jane. Personal interview. 15 Apr. 2023. If the interview was conducted via email or another specific method, you can note that: Jones, David. Email interview. 20 May 2023.

For published interviews, the format is similar to citing other published works like articles or books, including the publication details.

MLA Citation for a Published Interview

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. "Title of Interview (if any)." Interview by First Name Last Name of Interviewer. Title of Publication, Date of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. (e.g., URL or DOI). Example: Davis, Robert. "The Future of Urban Planning." Interview by Sarah Lee. Cityscapes Magazine, vol. 12, no. 3, Summer 2022, pp. 45-52. www.cityscapesmag.com/davisinterview.

Citing Interviews in APA Style

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is prevalent in social sciences. APA distinguishes between interviews as personal communication and published interviews. Personal communications are not included in the reference list but are cited in the text only.

APA In-Text Citation for Personal Communication Interview

(I. A. Lastname, personal communication, Month Day, Year) Example: (J. K. Rowling, personal communication, March 10, 2023)

If the interview is published or recorded and accessible to the reader (e.g., in a journal, book, or online archive), it is treated like other published works and included in the reference list. The format will vary depending on the source type (e.g., journal article, book chapter).

APA Citation for a Published Interview (as a Journal Article)

Last Name, F. M. (Year). Title of interview. Interview conducted by F. M. Last Name. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), Page numbers. DOI or URL Example: Miller, S. (2021). "Navigating the Digital Divide." Interview conducted by A. Chen. Journal of Social Informatics, 15(2), 112-130. https://doi.org/10.1080/12345678.2021.987654

Citing Interviews in Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style offers two systems: the Notes and Bibliography system (often used in the humanities) and the Author-Date system (common in social sciences). Both systems require similar core information but differ in presentation.

Chicago: Notes and Bibliography System

In this system, interviews are cited in both footnotes/endnotes and the bibliography. The initial note provides full details, while subsequent notes can be shortened. The bibliography entry is more concise.

Chicago (Notes and Bibliography) - Footnote/Endnote

1. First Name Last Name of Interviewee, interview by First Name Last Name of Interviewer, Month Day, Year, (Location if relevant; e.g., City, State or Online Platform). (e.g., Phone interview, New York City). Example: 1. Jane Doe, interview by John Smith, April 15, 2023, phone interview, Chicago, IL. Bibliography Entry: Last Name, First Name. Interview by First Name Last Name. Month Day, Year. (e.g., Phone interview, City, State or Online Platform). Example: Doe, Jane. Interview by John Smith. April 15, 2023. Phone interview, Chicago, IL.

Chicago: Author-Date System

The Author-Date system uses parenthetical in-text citations and a reference list. The format is similar to the Notes and Bibliography system but adapted for this structure.

Chicago (Author-Date) - In-Text Citation and Reference List

In-text citation: (Last Name Year, page number if applicable) Example: (Doe 2023) Reference List Entry: Last Name, First Name. Year. Interview by First Name Last Name. Month Day. (e.g., Phone interview, City, State or Online Platform). Example: Doe, Jane. 2023. Interview by John Smith. April 15. Phone interview, Chicago, IL.

Citing Interviews in Harvard Style

The Harvard referencing style, an author-date system, is widely used in various academic disciplines. Like other author-date systems, it requires an in-text citation and a full entry in the reference list.

Harvard Style Citation for an Interview

In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name Year) Example: (Smith 2023) Reference List Entry: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. (Year). Interview details. Date of interview. (e.g., Personal interview conducted via Zoom). Example: Smith, John. (2023). Interview details. 15 April. Personal interview conducted via Zoom.

If the interview has been published, you would cite it similarly to other published sources, including the publication details.

Harvard Style Citation for a Published Interview

Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. (Year). Title of interview. Interview conducted by Interviewer's First Name Last Name. In: Publication Title. Publication details (e.g., Volume, issue, page numbers, URL). Example: Jones, David. (2022). "The Impact of AI on Education." Interview conducted by Emily Carter. In: Educational Technology Review. Vol. 5, Issue 2, pp. 30-45. www.edtechreview.com/jonesinterview.

Special Considerations for Interview Citations

Beyond the standard formats, several specific scenarios require careful attention to ensure accuracy and completeness in your citations.

  • Recorded Interviews: If the interview is recorded (audio or video), note this in your citation. Some styles may require details about the recording format and where it is archived or accessible.
  • Transcribed Interviews: If you are citing a transcript of an interview, whether it's one you conducted or a published one, include information about the transcript itself, including its source and any relevant page numbers.
  • Interviews from Archives: When citing interviews held in archives or special collections, provide the name of the archive, collection name, and any specific catalog numbers or identifiers.
  • Online Interviews: For interviews published online, always include the URL or DOI. Ensure the URL is stable and directly links to the interview content.
  • Interviews Published in Books: If an interview is published as part of a book (e.g., a collection of interviews or a chapter), cite it as a chapter or section within the book, following the specific style guide's rules for book chapters.

Checklist for Citing Interviews

  • Have I identified the correct citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.) required for my work?
  • Do I have the full name of the interviewee?
  • Do I have the full name of the interviewer (if relevant to the style)?
  • Is the date of the interview accurately recorded (day, month, year)?
  • Have I noted the method of interview (in-person, phone, email, video call)?
  • If published, do I have the publication title, volume, issue, page numbers, and URL/DOI?
  • If unpublished, do I know where the interview can be accessed (e.g., personal files, archive)?
  • Have I formatted the citation according to the specific rules of the chosen style guide?
  • Is the in-text citation (if required) consistent with the reference list/bibliography entry?
  • Have I double-checked for any specific requirements for recorded or transcribed interviews?

Conclusion

Mastering the art of citing interviews adds a layer of professionalism and academic rigor to your work. By carefully gathering the necessary details and adhering to the specific requirements of your chosen citation style—whether it's MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard—you ensure that your sources are properly credited and easily verifiable. Remember to pay attention to the nuances of published versus unpublished interviews, recorded formats, and archival sources. Consistent and accurate citation practices not only prevent plagiarism but also enhance the overall quality and trustworthiness of your research, making your contributions more impactful.