Conducting Interviews — UX
This is a part of my class Assignment at UW Madison.
Personal Takeaways:
The concept of user interviews is a cornerstone in the field of User Experience design, and I was fascinated by the depth of understanding they can provide. During class, we delved into the art of asking open-ended questions, actively listening, and probing for insights. These techniques aim to uncover not only what users say they want but also what they truly need.
The role-playing exercise, where we practiced conducting interviews, was particularly enlightening. It emphasized the importance of empathy and the need to create a comfortable environment for participants to share their thoughts openly. One key takeaway for me was the significance of framing questions effectively to obtain a maximum number of insights. Crafting questions that are neutral and unbiased is essential for eliciting honest responses from users.
Last week, I played the role of the observer, taking down notes. It made me realize that note-taking can go beyond just recording what the user says; it can also capture their attitude, approach to questions, and even subtle cues like their choice of attire, all of which can provide valuable insights.
I also appreciated the discussion about potential pitfalls, such as leading questions and confirmation bias. These pitfalls can unintentionally skew the results and undermine the purpose of user interviews.
As I worked on A3, I found myself having to revisit the interviewee multiple times to gather missing information. This iterative process helped me understand the essence of forming the right questions. Being someone who enjoys in-depth discussions, I now recognize the potential to inadvertently introduce bias by providing more information during interviews. I’ve since taken steps to rectify these points in subsequent interviews, ensuring that I obtain relevant and useful insights.
This week’s exploration of conducting interviews has given me valuable tools and insights that I look forward to applying in my future design work.
