Locate an expert in your field. A suitable interviewee may have an advanced degree, or could just be a knowledgeable person with years of experience. Be sure that your expert consents to being quoted and used for your work.
Schedule an appointment to meet with your expert. Although an in-person meeting will allow the most flexibility, you may opt to interview by correspondence. Choose a place where your interviewee will be comfortable speaking at length, and make sure you are on time for your appointment.
Prepare a list of questions before the interview. Though your discussion may lead in unexpected directions, it is prudent to have guidelines for steering your talk. Keep your questions concise and limited in number to avoid overwhelming your subject.
Take notes throughout the interview. Don't try to write down every word, but record as many main ideas as you can. Avoid constraining the expert to your questions -- allow him to speak at length and write down any valuable insights.
Verify any direct quotations with the speaker after the interview. This allows him a chance to correct any misunderstandings, and to understand how their information will be used in your research.
Research possible sites for observation. Depending on the subject of your research, there may be a wealth of information to be gained from simply watching and recording human behaviors in some setting. Determine whether you will need permission to do field observation at the site, such as a school.
Contact an appropriate authority to request permission and schedule an appointment. You may need to provide proof of your identity and your status as a researcher. Explain your project and its goals to set others' minds at ease. You may need additional permissions and waivers if you want to take photographs, video or other recordings.
Observe unobtrusively. Your presence should cause as little disturbance as possible so that you may accurately record normal behaviors. Take thorough notes for later study.
Schedule another appointment to observe at a later date. You may find that your research was incomplete or misdirected and would be supplemented by a second session. If not, you can always cancel your next visit.
Choose your method of survey, depending on your resources and preferences. Some common choices include phone interviews, questionnaire by mail and in-person surveys. The type you choose will limit the questions you can ask -- for instance, open-ended questions requiring a long response can be elicited more easily in a spoken format.
Write your questions. Make sure all questions are concise and avoid ambiguous wording. If your research is exploratory, feel free to include open-ended sections for people to share their ideas freely. For more specific problems, multiple-choice questions provide data that is easy to analyze.
Select a population to survey. If you seek to query a random sample of the population, be prepared for many rejections. For higher completion rates, you may seek volunteers or offer incentives for survey completion. Be aware that these measures may change the demographic of your sample -- for instance, a gift card to a sports store might inspire a more active, youthful population to participate.
Question your subjects. If you are speaking to your respondents in person or by telephone, prepare a script and memorize it. Create a form beforehand for you to speedily write responses in, or get your subject's permission to record the interaction. Be prepared to clarify any confusing questions.
Select a relevant, accessible venue from which to collect data. You could analyze the media through a source such as cable television, or study product availability by visiting your local grocery store. Obtain records from organizations by searching the Internet or contacting their leaders.
Collect your data. Review a large quantity of material before drawing any conclusions. Watching only a few programs or visiting only one store could skew your results considerably and undermine your generalizations.
Document your research thoroughly. Where applicable, take pictures, make recordings or provide transcripts. Since your work is novel, you will need to prove to readers that your methods and observations are valid.