Final answer:
An important guideline during a fact-finding interview is 3) to probe to get sufficient details, choosing the right informant and preparing beforehand with background knowledge.
Step-by-step explanation:
During a fact-finding interview, an important guideline is to probe to get sufficient details. This involves conducting interviews methodically to gather information from, for example, customers and stakeholders with direct experience related to the research topic. An interview may be short or long, and it's crucial to choose the right informant who can provide insider information, which is vitally important to any research project, including anthropological studies.
While conducting a fact-finding interview, it is essential to have done your homework. Having background knowledge can help in making more insightful observations and formulating better interview questions. Using narrative techniques can help in providing supporting facts and answering the critical who, what, when, where, why, and how during the interviews. Also, considering expert opinions and conducting a root cause analysis can offer authoritative perspectives and insight into the true nature of the problem being investigated. Moreover, it is critical to get the buy-in of all stakeholders to ensure smooth progress and meaningful feedback on the project's design and its future direction.
Lastly, one must always remember to offer background information about the research and acquire express permissions before using any recording equipment during interviews, which are essential for maintaining ethical standards in research practices and respecting the informants' preferences.