Interview Abilities

Zach's description of our interview is very accurate. I noticed that he used a lot of quotes,which could mean one of two things. He was either very interested in what I had to say and felt that he must quote me or he was very proud of himself for making correct assumptions. Learning to ask the right questions can be a great skill.

I have several strengths and weaknesses as an interviewer. First, I was correct in assuming that Zach uses his bookbag to carry his books to class and for other trips. I was also correct in noticing the brand. Timberland's products are usually expensive and durable. Zach has carried this bookbag since the 9th grade. Finally, I have a strength in asking every question I could think of. Asking a lot of relevant questions provides you with a lot of answers. Doing this will help you piece together information even when there isn't much significance in the pieces.

I failed to think of the standard bookbag. If I had inititally done so, I would've noticed the missing handle, which surely would've been a sign that this bookbag is different. My assumption that he had purchased the bookbag from a store interefered with my ability to predict other aspects. For example, because I own one bookbag, I assumed this is the only one Zach owns also. In fact, he owns several. Because he loses the others and keeps this one would suggest that he likes this one because it has lasted the longest. I had also expected the bag to be sentimental to him because it belonged to his brother who left for the Navy. I would've felt some sentimental connection to such an object. When my brother left for the Army and was in Iraq for a year and a half, everything that he owned was senitmental to me. My experience prevented me from seeing the practical reasons of keeping this bookbag.

I should definitely change a few things the next time I interview someone about an artifact. First I should think objectively about the object and think of the stadnard for that object. Doing so would provide a basis for comparison. And second I should ignore my assumptions. Associating my feeelings with another person's object prevents me from seeing the association between the object and its owner.