How to set your UX research target and create insightful questions.

Hey there! Are you interested in conducting UX research but not sure where to start? Well, don’t worry! I’m here to help you out.

Determine research goals

Let’s begin by talking about how to determine your research goals and questions. It’s essential to make sure that your interviews are worthwhile for both you and the participants. To do that, you need to set clear goals for the interview. As a UX designer, you should think about what you want to learn from the interviews. Are there any user problems or pain points that you need to empathize with??

Here are some examples of common research goals when it comes to empathizing with users:

• I want to understand the processes and emotions that people experience around the problem my product is trying to solve.
• I want to identify common user behaviors and experiences with tasks that my product is trying to address.
• I want to understand user needs and frustrations as they relate to the product I’m designing.

Write interview questions

Writing interview questions can be a bit tricky, but don’t worry, I’ve got some tips for you!

There are a few best practices to keep in mind when writing interview questions:

• Ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions allow the person being interviewed to answer freely, instead of with a simple “yes” or “no.” For example, if you’re designing an app to help people find a sharing cab, you should ask “Could you describe your experience with finding and scheduling cabs?” instead of “Have you ever used an app to find a shared cab?” Keep in mind that the questions you ask during interviews should not lead or pressure participants towards a desired response; instead, asking open-ended questions lets participants share their true thoughts and perspectives.
• Keep questions short and simple. It should be easy for interview participants to understand what you’re asking.
• Ask follow-up questions. During the empathize phase of the design process, interviews should be conversational, so encouraging participants to elaborate is a best practice. After a participant answers an interview question, try asking them “Why?” or use the phrase, “Tell me more about that” to keep the conversation flowing.

Research is an essential part of the UX design process and empathizing with users. Taking time to outline the goals for your research will help ensure the feedback you obtain is valuable.