20 Questions
What is the primary purpose of defining the aim and scope of a study?
To focus the direction of the questions and facilitate analysis
Why is it important to work closely with stakeholders when crafting questions?
To get their feedback and improve the questions
What is the 'aim' of a study?
The intent of the study or what you're trying to find out
What should questions ask about in user research?
The users' current experiences and initial thoughts about new products and services
Why is it important to consider the structure and flow of questions?
To ensure the questions flow effectively within the session
What is the primary purpose of asking 'Why?' in user research interviews?
To get at the reasonings behind the user's thoughts
What is the purpose of the 'Wrap up' questions in a user research interview?
To capture last-minute thoughts and opinions
Why is it essential to avoid leading questions in user research interviews?
To prevent bias and ensure unbiased responses
What is the difference between open and leading questions?
Open questions allow for both positive and negative responses, while leading questions lead to specific answers
Why is it essential to practice conducting user research interviews?
To improve the delivery of the interview
What is the primary goal of exploring users' current workflows in the research process?
To discover unmet needs and opportunities to make the overall experience better
What is the 'Quick and Dirty Usability Test' described in Leah Buley's book used for?
To ask users what they see being presented to them and what they would expect to see as they progress through the designs
What is a persona in the context of user research?
A fictional character used to represent a particular set of users
What is the primary difference between quantitative and qualitative data in user research?
Quantitative data is numerical, while qualitative data is non-numerical
What is the suggested structure for a user research interview session?
Start with general questions, then move to specific questions, and end with general questions
What is the main benefit of conducting a practice run with a volunteer?
To test your questions and refine the flow of the interview
Why is it important to ask concise questions during the interview?
To get short and precise answers
What should you do with your 'must have' questions during the interview?
Ask them early in the interview
Why is it a good idea to pad your interview duration with 5-10 minutes?
To accommodate chatty users
When should you do your practice run?
Early enough to adjust your questions
Study Notes
Crafting Great Questions for User Research
- Effective user research involves asking the right questions to uncover users' needs and experiences.
- Questions should be crafted to explore what works and doesn't work in users' current workflows, identify unmet needs, and discover opportunities to improve the overall experience.
Understanding the Aim and Scope of the Study
- Define the aim of the study: what you're trying to find out, and what you want to achieve.
- Define the scope of the study: who you're researching, and how you're doing your analysis.
- The aim and scope of the study help focus the direction of your questions, making it easier to analyze the results.
Structuring Your Questions
- Use an hourglass structure for your interview: start broad, then narrow down to specifics, and finally, broaden out again.
- The opening: ask questions about users' work, how they currently use the product, and general thoughts on how things are currently working for them.
- The middle: ask questions that help drill down on detailed feedback on the feature or concept you're trying to improve.
- The wrap-up: ask big questions about users' overall impressions and capture last-minute thoughts.
Avoiding Bias in Your Questions
- Leading questions can lead to biased results, so it's essential to ask open and non-leading questions.
- Avoid asking questions that solicit emotional responses, as they can be hard to analyze.
- Stay away from leading questions, ask open questions, and ask what users are thinking rather than what they're feeling.
Tips for Conducting Effective Interviews
- Practice makes perfect: conduct dry runs with volunteers to refine your questions and improve your interview skills.
- Ask short, precise questions to get concise answers.
- Ask your important questions early in case you get a verbose user.
- Highlight the "must-have" questions to ensure you ask them.
Building Questions as an Art and Science
- Crafting questions is both an art and a science, requiring consideration of the aim and scope of the study, structure and flow of the questions, and the way the questions are worded.
- Work closely with stakeholders to get their feedback on your questions and improve them until you're ready to interview.
- Use iterations to build stakeholder engagement in your project.
Learn how to craft effective and unbiased questions for user research. Understand how to structure questions that flow well and get the most out of your sessions.
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