Back to Contents If a stakeholder provisionally agrees to take part, the coordinator sends a follow-up email attaching the following documents: • • An edited version of the ‘Asylos information sheet for interviewees’ [which explains how responses will be used and how the preferred level of anonymity and confidentiality will be guaranteed] A copy of the ToR and the interview questions. The coordinator will also ensure that they are aware that the following can be made available to them on request: • • The COI desk research report The Strategic COI Report Methodology. Once a stakeholder has had sight of this further information and confirms their willingness to take part, arrangements will be made for how they will submit their answers. The information sheet asks the stakeholder to indicate if they would prefer to submit their contribution in written form or through an oral interview. If possible, the coordinator will encourage each participant to agree to an interview (unless interviewees are very experienced in providing written expert testimony for RSD procedures) as we have found that interviews are more likely to wield usable information. Once these arrangements have been made, each participant is asked to provide a short bio, or link to their CV, which will be published alongside the final report. Step 8: Interviewing stakeholders Interviews will be conducted by Asylos’s Programme Manager(s) with assistance from Asylos volunteers where appropriate. Each interview should be recorded, unless interviewees have indicated that they do not wish for this to happen. In this case interviewers should take notes while conducting the interview. Volunteers conducting the interviews are asked to stick to the following guidelines: At the beginning of each interview, the interviewer should start by introducing themselves, thanking the interviewee for taking part, and asking for permission to record the interview. Once this has been agreed they should check that the interviewees have received, and have reference to, the report containing our findings from the desk research and have read and understood ‘Asylos information sheet for interviewees’ (contained in appendix 2) which sets out our recommendations for supplying their evidence. All interviewees have received these guidelines but should be reminded of following key points during the introduction: • • • • Interviewees should not attempt to answer any questions which fall outside of their expertise or about which they have insufficient information Interviewees should make clear if the information they are providing is based on direct experience or other evidence throughout the interview If interviewees have obtained the information from other sources they should make sure they confirm where they obtained that information Interviewees should not withhold any information on the basis it may detract from their view, rather if interviewees are aware of information conflicting with their views, they should be asked to acknowledge it and explain why their opinion departs from this information. Before launching into the questions, the interviewer should double check how the source wants to be referenced in the final report and whether or not they would prefer to be anonymous. The interviewee will have already indicated this in their Confidentiality and Anonymity agreement, so this serves to ensure that interviewees are still in agreement with what they initially indicated. Once the introduction is over the interviewer may commence asking questions, working through the questions in a structured and methodical way. Whilst doing so, volunteers are asked to pay attention to the following points on interview techniques: 17. Appendices 148