What information is needed when citing a personal interview?
When citing a personal interview in academic writing, essential elements include the interviewee's name, the date the interview occurred, and an explicit designation of the communication as a personal interview.
Key requirements encompass obtaining the interviewee's informed consent prior to citation, ensuring confidentiality agreements are honored. Cite such interviews exclusively as personal communications within the text, reserving formal bibliography entries only if the interview is published or publicly archived elsewhere. Distinguish clearly between personal interviews conducted by the author ("personal communication") and published interview transcripts. Avoid citing offhand conversations lacking a formal, agreed-upon interview structure. Verbatim quotations require precise transcripts or recordings with permission.
Proper citation acknowledges the interviewee as a primary source and upholds academic integrity. While generally not included in the reference list per major styles like APA or MLA, in-text citations allow readers to evaluate the source's origin and context, lending credibility to arguments derived from expert insights or unique personal experiences otherwise inaccessible through conventional published materials. Always verify specific style guide requirements (APA, MLA, Chicago).
