How To Conduct User Interviews Like A Pro (UX Design)

Summary

In this video, Jay from Career Foundry provides a comprehensive guide on conducting effective user interviews as a UX designer. The video covers essential steps such as setting clear research objectives, recruiting the right participants, choosing a neutral interview location, and crafting open-ended questions. Jay emphasizes the importance of active listening, avoiding biases, and creating a comfortable environment for participants. By following these steps and best practices, designers can gather valuable qualitative data to inform product design and improve user experience. The goal is to help UX professionals enhance their research methods through thoughtful, user-centered interviews.

Takeaways

• 😀 User interviews are a key UX research method to understand users' feelings and experiences about a product or service.
• 😀 User interviews provide qualitative data, gathering users' thoughts through self-reported answers instead of observing their actions.
• 😀 User interviews are ideal at the beginning of a project, especially when defining user personas or determining features for a new design.
• 😀 Later in the process, user interviews can provide valuable insights about existing products or designs, especially after usability testing.
• 😀 Set clear research objectives before starting the interview. Know what insights you want to gather from the user.
• 😀 Recruiting participants from your target audience is crucial. You can tap into an existing customer base or use social media for recruitment.
• 😀 The interview location should be neutral and comfortable to avoid bias, and you should have permission to record the session.
• 😀 Ask open-ended, non-leading questions to encourage detailed answers from the user, avoiding simple yes-or-no responses.
• 😀 Be mindful of the way you phrase questions. Avoid leading questions that could bias the user's responses.
• 😀 Have a list of interview questions prepared in advance, along with follow-up prompts to encourage the user to elaborate on their answers.
• 😀 Best practices for conducting user interviews include making the user feel heard, avoiding industry jargon, and giving the user time to reflect before answering.
• 😀 Finish the interview by asking if the user has any questions or additional insights to share, which may reveal valuable information.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of conducting user interviews in UX design?

The primary goal of conducting user interviews is to gather qualitative self-reported data from users. This helps understand their perceptions, needs, pain points, and desires related to the product or service being designed.

When should user interviews be conducted during the UX design process?

User interviews can be conducted at different stages. They are particularly useful at the start of a project to define user personas and decide on features. Later in the process, they can help gather opinions on existing designs or during post-usability testing to supplement observed behaviors with verbal insights.

What are some examples of research objectives for user interviews?

Examples of research objectives include understanding attitudes toward language learning, discovering what features users desire in language learning apps, or identifying which apps users currently use for language learning.

How should participants be recruited for user interviews?

Participants should be recruited from your target audience. You can tap into an existing customer base or recruit via social media, ensuring that the participants align with your user persona and relevant experience for the product.

Why is the location of a user interview important?

The location is crucial because the environment can influence how users respond. A neutral and relaxed setting, such as an unbranded meeting room or a location of the user's choice, helps ensure unbiased and honest answers.

What should be considered when preparing interview questions?

Interview questions should be open-ended and non-leading. They should encourage detailed responses and allow users to express their thoughts fully. It's also important to prepare a list of questions in advance and have follow-up prompts to elicit deeper insights.

What is the difference between leading and non-leading questions in user interviews?

Leading questions suggest or imply a desired response, which can bias the answers. Non-leading questions, on the other hand, are open-ended and allow the participant to freely share their thoughts, leading to more genuine and insightful responses.

How can you make the user feel comfortable during the interview?

To make users feel comfortable, engage with them by making eye contact, acknowledging their answers, and offering your undivided attention. It's also helpful to introduce the interview with a brief statement about its purpose and reassure them that their participation is voluntary and confidential.

What are some best practices for conducting effective user interviews?

Best practices include making the user feel heard, avoiding industry jargon, taking time to let the user reflect before answering, and wrapping up the interview by asking if they have any additional insights. It's also crucial to avoid rushing the session to ensure you gather detailed responses.

How can you improve the quality of responses during a user interview?

To improve the quality of responses, avoid interruptions and give the user ample time to think. Also, encourage elaboration by using follow-up questions like 'Can you tell me more about that?' or 'Can you explain this in more detail?' This allows users to share deeper insights.