1. The User Interview
A versatile user research method
Katherine Wahl
Usability/Accessibility Consultant
June, 2014
2. User Interviews
A common method of obtaining user feedback
The researcher talks directly with the user in a one-on-one
conversation
Can be done and repeated anytime during the project
life cycle
3. Advantages
Versatility
Sessions can be set up and run quickly
Open to an iterative process
Not dependent on developers
Data is from real users
Opportunity to develop a deep understanding of users
Inexpensive
4. Challenges
Defining goals
Recognizing and eliminating bias
Listening carefully
Recording the session
Analyzing the data
9. Versatility: Timing
Interviews are useful at any time in product development
Requirements gathering and specification creation
Prototype design
Coding
Alpha/Beta release
QA
Documentation and training
10. A brief ‘how to’ guide
Preparation
Conducting the interview
Reporting
11. Preparation: Goals
Set reasonable goals
Discuss them with your client
Define what NOT to expect
22. Bibliography
Buxton, Bill. (2007). Sketching User Experiences: Getting the
Design Right and the Design Right. Amsterdam, Netherlands:
Morgan Kaufmann/Elsevier.
Courage, Catherine & Kathy Baxter. (2005). Understanding
Your Users: A Practical Guide to User Requirements Methods,
Tools, and Techniques. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Morgan
Kaufmann/Elsevier.
Goodman, Elizabeth, Mike Kuniavsky and Andrea Moed.
(2012). Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner’s
Guide to User Research (2nd Edition). San Francisco,
California: Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann.
23. Bibliography
Morville, Peter & Louis Rosenfeld. (2006). Information Architecture
for the World Wide Web – Third Edition. Sebastopol, California:
O’Reilly Media, Inc.
Nielsen, Jakob. (1993) Usability Engineering. San Francisco,
California: Morgan Kaufmann.
Portugal, Steve, (2013) Interviewing Users: How to Uncover
Compelling Insights. Brooklyn, New York: Rosenfeld.
Quesenbery, Whitney & Kevin Brooks. (2010). Storytelling for User
Experiences: Crafting Stories for Better Design. Brooklyn, New York:
Rosenfeld.
Schumacher, Robert. Editor (2009). Handbook of Global User
Research. Amsterdam:, Netherlands: Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann.