What is a key consideration when interviewing an interested subject?

Being cautious as the subject's statements may be biased is a key consideration during interviews because individuals can have personal motivations, emotions, or perspectives that influence the information they provide. Interviewing often involves gathering subjective accounts, and the way a subject perceives or interprets their experiences can impact the reliability of their statements.

Recognizing potential bias allows the interviewer to interpret the information with a more critical lens, taking into account the context and the subject's background. This is particularly important in situations where the information might significantly affect decisions or conclusions. Utilizing techniques to verify statements and cross-reference with other sources can help mitigate the effects of bias.

In contrast, while avoiding leading questions is valuable and using specific questions can help with clarity, these techniques do not directly address the potential for bias inherent in the subject's perspective. Encouraging subjects to share extensively without interruption might yield rich information, but it does not inherently account for the biases that might color their narrative.