A user interview is a UX research method during which a researcher asks one user questions about a topic of interest (e.g., use of a system, behaviors and habits) with the goal of learning about that topic.
User interviews are typically performed with the potential users of a design, as part of anĀ ideation phase or during early concept development. User interviews follow a structured methodology whereby the interviewer prepares a number of topics to cover, makes a record of what is said in the interview, and systematically analyzes the conversation after the interview.
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UX Interviews tend to be a quick and easy way to collect user data, so they are often used, especially inĀ Lean and AgileĀ environments. They are closely related to journalistic interviews and to the somewhat narrower and more formal HCI method called theĀ critical incident technique,Ā which was introduced in 1954 by John Flanagan.
Although you may feel that doing a UX user interview is simple and straightforward, there is more to a good interview than many people realize.
User interviews can be done in a variety of situations:
- before you have a design, to inform ,ĀPersonas, feature ideas, workflow ideasCustomer Journey Mapping
- toĀ enrich aĀ contextual inquiryĀ studyĀ by supplementing observation with descriptions of tools, processes, bottlenecks, and how users perceive them
- at theĀ end of a usability test, to collect verbal responses related to observed behaviors
- (Do defer the interview untilĀ afterĀ the behavioral observation segment of the usability study: if you ask questions before the participant tries to perform tasks with your design, you will haveĀ primed the userĀ to pay special attention to whatever features or issues you asked about.)
How to do a user interview
First and foremost, think of an interview as a type of research study, not a sales session or an informal conversation. Then, use the following tips to make your interviews most effective.
Set a goal for the interview.
Ask product stakeholders what they want to learn. From their desires, determine the main goal, ensuring that itās realistic. Too broad of a goal, likeĀ learn about users, is a likely to make interviews fail, because it will not focus your questions in a direction relevant to your design needs. A concise, concrete goal related to a specific aspect of the usersā behavior or attitudes can bring the team to consensus, and direct how youāll construct the interview.
Examples of good interview goals:
Make the user feel as comfortable as possible. Create a rapport with the user.
People are more likely to remember, talk, and let their guard down if they feel relaxed and trust the interviewer and the process. Here are some tips for an effective interview.
- Have a video call or phone call (or at least some interaction) with the user before the interview itself.
- Before the interview day, and also at the start of the actual interview, explain the reason for the interview, and how the data from it will be used.
- Make the user feel heard by taking notes, nodding, frequent eye contact, offering acknowledgments like āI see,ā and repeating the words the user said.
- Let users finish their thoughts. Do not interrupt them.
- Donāt rush the user. Pause. Slow down your pace of speech. Talking slowly has a calming effect and indicates that you are not anxious and that you have time to listen.
- Start with questions that are easy to answer and that are unlikely to be interpreted as personal or judgmental. For example, instead of āWhat was the last book you read?ā try āWhat do you like to do in your spare time?ā The latter is open-ended, while the former assumes the user read a book recently; those who did not may feel stupid.
- Show someĀ empathyĀ by asking related questions. But recall that it is difficult to act sympathetic without also being leading or making assumptions. For example, imagine that a user said he could not reach the customer-support team. You can show some concern by asking the user to elaborate: āYou couldnāt reach support. Can you tell me more about that?ā You could even try a question like āHow did that make you feel?ā but only if the user did not already indicate how he felt. For example, if the user already verbally or even nonverbally expressed frustration when recalling the event, then asking how he felt would seem as though the interviewer had not been listening. As an empathetic human being, you might want to say, āThat must have been frustrating,ā or āIām sorry your time was wasted like that.ā But those would be leading points. Instead, asking a question that relates to the usersā feelings can show that you are listening and feel for their plight. At the absolute end of the interview, you can express some of these more apologetic sentiments.
- Be authentic, and donāt fake empathy. Acting can make you appear disingenuous. It is better to be yourself; donāt say something if you donāt genuinely feel it.
Interviews are a quick and easy way to get a sense of how users feel, think, and what they perceive to be true. Do them, but complement them with observation-based research to attain an accurate and thorough sense of what users really do and a higher feeling of confidence with the information you collect.