Preparation of User Research Interview

Prepare your user research interview questions and evaluate your findings. UX & Product Design tool

Steps
7
Last edited
Feb 26, 2024
Created by
Nova

About this process

Prepare for your user interview by preparing the questions and adding your assumptions. This tool will be used before and after the interviews. A user interview is a Design and UX research method in which a researcher will ask questions about a topic of interest (e.g., use of a system, behaviors, and habits) - normally the goal is to learn about that topic and what users think. The difference between a focus group or this method is that user interviews are one-on-one sessions (Occasionally the session can be managed by various facilitators. They may take turns asking questions). UX Interviews are usually are a quick and easy way to collect user data. This technique is closely related to journalistic interviews or the HCI method called the critical incident technique, which was introduced in 1954 by John Flanagan and other typical market research techniques used by various authors over the years. Interviews provide insights into what users think a lot of time we refer to this unknown area as the "black box". Duration: 1 to 3 days Usability: UX and Product Design Alternatives to this interview method: Interview dialogue, Resource Flow, Collage, Card Sort, etc

The process in detail

7 steps
  1. 1

    What is the objective?

  2. 2

    Create a list of things you are going to need during the interview.

  3. 3

    Prepare the introduction

  4. 4

    Prepare the questions

  5. 5

    Prepare the process

  6. 6

    During the user interviews

  7. 7

    Analysis + findings

Read the full text
1. What is the objective?

Define your design challenge/ product challenge or problem you are trying to solve. Define your goals.

Write a note
2. Create a list of things you are going to need during the interview.

For example: Create a Card deck to guide the conversation. Provide Pictures and add them to the board Zoom or Skype call (videorecording) Email invitation Prepare the introduction, questions and the thank you message Gift Card - The Interviews rely on the user giving their opinions, recalling events, and discussing them. If the event is hard to explain or recall use card decks or images to help the user remember.

Work on the whiteboardUser Research Interviews Prep Board
3. Prepare the introduction

Hi, my name is [ NAME ] and this is [ NAME ]! As explained during our [EMAIL, PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS] we are conducting research about [BUYING BEHAVIOURS, CLEANING BEHAVIOURS, etc]. The purpose of this research is to ...

Work on the whiteboardUser Research Interviews Prep Board
4. Prepare the questions

Create a list of general questions. We have a few categories on the board based on the purpose of the questions. Add additional categories if you need them.

Work on the whiteboardUser Research Interviews Prep Board
5. Prepare the process

Add all your questions on a timeline.

https://nova-labs-1.s3.amazonaws.com/pub/d7E9wjeMERHjQZiDJJixFCg-Screen Shot 2020-04-03 at 12.48.46 PM.png

Add alternative questions. Add your assumptions. Use the empathy board to understand your user and create these assumptions.

Work on the whiteboardUser Research Interviews Prep Board
6. During the user interviews

Follow the process and the questions during the interview. During or after the interview add the notes to the board. Compare those notes with your assumptions. Provide a link to the video for future references. For multiple interviews add their name or use different sticky note colors. Show some empathy by asking related questions.

Important tips: Don't make assumptions. Ask the user and challenge yourself on those assumptions. Make sure you take notes. You need to write down exactly how each person talks and says things. Do not take notes using your own words or a representation of what you think they mean. Observe their behavior and micromovements. Take notes of facial movements, pauses, etc

Write a note
7. Analysis + findings

You can open the board to discuss and analyze findings with your team. Once everyone is happy with the analysis you can move forward and share your highlight and key insights here. Keep in mind that User Research Interviews are not used for product testing. these interviews will help you know whether people believe they would use a design or idea. The Interviews rely on the user giving their opinions, recalling events, and discussing them.

Write a note
User Research Interviews Prep Board
  • 02.1
  • 01
  • 02
  • 00
  • Questions: The Process
  • Introduction
  • Questions List
  • Guidelines & Tips
  • Create a process to start to finish from the introduction all the way to the tank you message.
  • Prepare your question and additional ones to look for tensions, to uncover insights about personal values, etc
  • Prepare the introduction. During the introduction, you will introduce yourself and your team. Here is an example: Hi, my name is [ NAME ] and this is [ NAME ]! As explained during our [EMAIL, PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS] we are conducting research about [BUYING BEHAVIOURS, CLEANING BEHAVIOURS, etc]. The purpose of this research is [TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY YOU MAKE CERTAIN DECICION...]. This is important for our team because we would like to have meaningful insights to better inspire our team to develop a good solution. We want to hear your experience and thoughts and there are no right or wrong answers, we just ask for your sincere feedback. Your answers will be private and even we are not able to provide too much information now we are happy to provide you with more context afterward.
  • General Guidelines Ask open-ended questions and avoid questions that can be answered yes or no. Be prepared for the interview and have a few questions or alternative conversation points to guide the interview in the right direction when this one takes side jumps. Do not ask questions like: Do you think it is important to have insurance? Do you want "X" functionality?
  • Questions to uncover values and personal habits
  • These questions are a good start but do not ask too many of these questions. Mix these questions with non-personal questions. Example: Start with: What is your Name? Where are you located? Where do you work and what is your role there? Walk me through your day to day life after work? Walk me through your morning routine?
  • Hi, my name is [ NAME ] and this is [ NAME ]! As explained during our [EMAIL, PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS] we are conducting research about [BUYING BEHAVIOURS, CLEANING BEHAVIOURS, etc]. The purpose of this research is [TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY YOU MAKE CERTAIN DECICION...].
  • Question
  • Question
  • Question
  • Question
  • Question
  • Question
  • Add your questions here
  • Hi, my name is Emma and this is John! As explained during our email we are conducting research about cleaning dishes because we want to improve our products. The purpose of this research is [TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY YOU MAKE CERTAIN DECICION...]. This is important for our team because we would like to have meaningful insights to better inspire our team to develop a good solution. We want to hear your experience and thoughts and there are no right or wrong answers, we just ask for your sincere feedback. Your answers will be private and even we are not able to provide too much information now we are happy to provide you with more context afterward.
  • Assumptions
  • Assumptions
  • Assumptions
  • Assumptions
  • Assumptions
  • Assumptions
  • Assumptions - what do you think they will answer?
  • Open-ended questions
  • Encourage people to tell you a story by asking questions like: What was challenging for you? Why do you think that happened? Tell me a story about the last time you ...? Walk me through the process ... Share with me ... How do you feel ... Do you remember the last time ... What did you do with ...? That is interesting! Tell more about ... (repeat their own word)
  • Answers
  • Answers
  • Answers
  • Answers
  • Answers
  • Answers
  • Thank you
  • Add your observations here.
  • Thank you for this conversation and for your time. We've taken great notes on your valuable input and feedback which will help our team design the next [ Product, Product experience, etc ]
  • Dig deeper and find tensions and uncover insightful information
  • Encourage people to tell you a story by asking questions like: What was surprising about ... or " I imagine that was a surprise for you..." What is contradictory? Why? what is the reason behind that?
  • NAME
  • NAME
  • NAME
  • NAME
  • NAME
  • NAME
  • Observations
  • Observations
  • Observations
  • Observations
  • Observations
  • Observations
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Capabilities
Fully editableAdapts as work changesAdd more sessions anytimeAI can be assigned
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Created byNova·Official process
Last edited Feb 26, 2024·7 steps