The Ultimate Guide: How to Cite a Personal Interview in Your Research Paper

Interviews can be an essential part of research, providing unique insights and valuable information. But if you are using one in your research paper, you need to know how to cite it properly. In this article, we’ll provide you with the ultimate guide on how to cite a personal interview in your research paper.

Introduction

Citing a personal interview is not as straightforward as citing a book or article. The rules are a bit more complex, but it’s essential to get it right to avoid plagiarism and give proper credit to your sources. Whether you’re citing an interview you conducted yourself, or one that someone else conducted, it’s crucial to follow the proper guidelines.

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Step 1: Identify the Type of Interview You Are Citing

The type of personal interview you are citing will determine the format you should use to cite it. There are two main types of personal interviews:

– Unpublished interviews: These are interviews that were not published in a book, journal, or other publication. These can include interviews you conducted yourself or interviews conducted by others but not published.

– Published interviews: These are interviews that have been published in a book, journal, or other publication.

Step 2: Choose the Correct Citation Format

Once you have identified the type of interview you are citing, you need to choose the appropriate citation format. The two most common citation formats for personal interviews are the APA format and the MLA format.

APA Format:

For unpublished interviews in the APA format, the citation format should be as follows:

Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Date). Interview type [Unpublished interview]. Interviewee First Initial. Interviewee Last Name.

For published interviews in the APA format, the citation format should be as follows:

Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Date). Interview type. In Book title (pp. pages). Interviewee First Initial. Interviewee Last Name. City, State: Publisher.

MLA Format:

For unpublished interviews in the MLA format, the citation format should be as follows:

Last Name, First Name. Personal interview. Date/Month/Year.

For published interviews in the MLA format, the citation format should be as follows:

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Interview.” Interviewed by First Name Last Name. Title of Publication or Collection, Publisher, Year, Page range.

Step 3: Include the Interview in your Bibliography or Reference List

After you have cited the interview in your paper, you need to include it in your bibliography or reference list. The format for this will depend on the citation style you are using.

For the APA format, the reference list should be organized alphabetically by the last name of the interviewee. For the MLA format, the Works Cited page should be organized alphabetically by the last name of the interviewee.

Step 4: Mention the Interview in the Text of Your Research Paper

It is also necessary to include a mention of the interview in the text of your research paper. This mention should be brief and should identify the interviewee and the date of the interview.

For the APA format, the mention should be in the following format:

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

For the MLA format, the mention should be in the following format:

(Last Name).

Conclusion

Citing a personal interview can be a bit more complicated than citing other sources, but it’s an essential step in giving proper credit to your sources and avoiding plagiarism. By following the guidelines provided in this article, you can be confident that your citations are accurate and appropriate for your research paper. Remember to choose the correct citation format, include the interview in your bibliography or reference list, and mention the interview in the text of your paper. With these steps, you can be sure that your research paper is of the highest quality, and your sources are well-cited.