Conduct Empathy Interviews: Elevate Student Voices, So You Can Understand and Support Them
Leaders cannot be leaders if they do not understand the needs of those people they lead. If leaders do not show they care, how could others feel safe and protected… yet alone capable and valued?
– Kyxie Dominguez, Education Specialist
INTRO
Empathy Interviews provide an opportunity to really understand a student, or group of students, by diving deeper than the surface-level question, “How are you?” and receiving the typical response, “I’m fine.”
These interviews inform intentional classroom and school-level action by elevating student voices and garnering a better understanding of student needs (SEL and well-being), and experiences (engagement).
This resource provides step-by-step instructions on how to conduct an empathy interview.
OBJECTIVES
- Better understand a student group’s experience around a particular space, environment, or situation
- Gain understanding as to what students’ needs are, and how you can support them
Empathy interviews can be conducted as a focus group or individual interview.
Planning For Empathy Interviews
Identify Interview Facilitators
These individuals should be comfortable speaking with students and able to develop a high level of rapport with participants. Interviewers can be neutral outside facilitators, or school staff who are not currently teaching students that participate in the group.
TIPS
If possible, the group moderator should be accompanied by a dedicated note-taker so that all responses can be recorded. Audio recordings work best, and can be transcribed, thus allowing for more accurate data and quotes.
Identify Students to Interview
When designing and selecting students for empathy interview participation, recruit students with diverse perspectives and school experiences.
This should include:
- Students from each different program and/or school group.
- Representative sample of students across multiple criteria (e.g., grade level or span; school; student subgroup, such as English language learners or special education; GPA; experience with their program).
- Try to ensure that focus groups are demographically representative of the community, taking into consideration characteristics such as race/ethnicity, gender, experience with program.
- Consider using a protocol like the Unpacking All protocol to explore what groups you may need to ensure you are including.
TIPS
- To allow all participants multiple opportunities to contribute to the conversation, groups should not exceed 8–10 individuals (for Zoom/online focus groups, we recommend no more than 5-6 students).
- Students should be given the opportunity to provide written and verbal assent/consent to participate. Check with the district to see if parental consent is also required.
Identify Thematic Interview Questions
A typical empathy interview protocol has four to eight open-ended, story-based questions. It is helpful to have a theme you are exploring through the empathy interviews, and start with questions that all students can connect with. Leave room for follow-up questions to encourage students to go deeper. Consider the list of sample questions below.
Avoid asking questions that can be answered with “yes/no.”
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
- What does it mean to “feel like you belong” at school?
- Do you feel like you belong at this school?
- Why or why not?
- If yes: Can you think of another student who might not feel like they belong? What could we do to help them feel more connected?
- If no: What do you think would help you feel more connected to (school name)?
- What makes your time at this school meaningful?
- Tell me about a time when you were motivated, inspired or driven.
- Do you feel like you have a say in what or how you learn?
- If yes: Describe a time when you had the ability to direct your own learning.
- If no: In which areas would you like to have more input?
- Have you had opportunities at this school to express your opinion and be heard?
- If yes: Describe a time when you were able to express yourself.
- If no: Describe a time when you wish your voice would have been heard.
- Do you feel valued by your teachers and fellow students at this school? What contributions are you able to make to your fellow-students, your teachers, your classes or the program in general?
- General follow-up: Complete this sentence: “I feel an important part of something special when…”
- Describe some of your most impactful experiences at this school. They could be positive or negative experiences.
- Why did you decide to enroll at this school?
- What did you think it would be like versus what you are experiencing?
- Has it met your expectations? Why or why not?
- What would you say about the school climate at this school?
- Tell me more about the program/course/pathway in which you are enrolled.
- What do you like best AND what is challenging about your program?
- Please describe your experience with your classes and teachers.
- Does the material you cover in your content area classes connect to and make learning better in your program? Why or why not?
- What have you learned at this school that you think will most affect your ability to get a job after high school?
- What resources and/or support do you think would be helpful to have to better prepare you for life after high school?
- Do you have any other suggestions on how student experiences might be improved at this school?
Conduct Empathy Interview
Welcome
Explain the purpose of the focus group/interview. Provide appropriate guidelines.
Introduction
Provide an icebreaker, or intro activity.
Dive into questions
This should be an intentional conversation focused on a positive student experience. The facilitator should become familiar with the thematic questions ahead of time. Being able to conduct the interview like a discussion may make the students more comfortable responding than asking questions in a list-like format.
- Follow up on answers that need clarification or that might lead to more in depth discussion, using phrases like “Tell me more about that.”
- Avoid injecting personal opinion or strong positive/negative reaction to answers.
- Encourage participation by all students, paying attention to students who don’t answer right away by giving them a chance to speak up.
- Avoid requiring students to answer, especially if they seem uncomfortable.
- Try to get students to provide specific examples, when possible.
- Provide students with the opportunity to follow up individually or add information they thought about after the interview is over.
- Capture verbatim notes with as much detail as possible.
TIPS
- Be a little vulnerable during an interview in order to gain trust. This shows you are willing to share, and trying to relate, but don’t forget the main focus is on the student, or group.
- Don’t suggest answers to your questions. This can unintentionally get people to say things that agree with your expectations.
- Don’t be afraid of silence. Often if you allow there to be silence, a person will reflect on what they’ve just said and say something deeper.
- Look for inconsistencies. Sometimes what people say and what they do (or say later) are different. Gracefully probe these contradictions.
- Be aware of nonverbal cues. Consider body language and emotions.
- It helps to put the pen/pencil and paper down and have a natural conversation. Student’s can feel really tense when it seems as if you’re documenting their every word.
Wrap up
Thank the person or group for their time and thoughtful discussion. Provide a way for the student(s) to share any final thoughts or comments they may think of in the coming days.
Collect Information/Data
To summarize student empathy interview data effectively, start by identifying key themes, patterns, and insights from student responses. Look for trends and consider the root causes of those trends.
- Categorize feedback into major areas such as academic experiences, social-emotional well-being, and school culture.
- Highlight common challenges, aspirations, and suggestions to ensure student voices drive meaningful improvements.
- Use direct quotes or representative anecdotes to add authenticity and depth.
Present your findings in a clear and concise format such as a thematic report like the example provided in the Math Anxiety Research Brief. Consider creating an infographic or presentation to make the data accessible to educators, staff, and stakeholders. This approach will help foster discussions and guide action plans that support student needs.
Build and Implement an Action Plan
Brainstorm ways to enhance the student experience based on the information garnered from the interviews. Identify potential projects, activities, committees, etc. to address common student needs that emerged.
Responses