user interview wahl_upa

The User Interview The only real cost is your time

Katherine Wahl Usability Consultant, MIT

UPA 2012, Las Vegas

Versatility

Versatility: Location

Versatility: Format

¤  Questions ¤  Structured or unstructured

¤  Workflow or task oriented

Versatility: Format

Versatility: Timing

Requirements gathering &

spec creation

Prototyping, design

Coding Alpha/Beta

Release, QA, Docs & Training

Project Timeline

Preparation

Preparation: Goals

¤  Set reasonable goals

¤  Discuss them with your client

¤  Good chance to make clear what NOT to expect

Preparation: Participants

¤  Define your audience

¤  Pad your schedule

¤  Confirm your appointments

Preparation: Questions

¤  Draft and revise your questions

¤  Be mindful of bias

¤  Think about timing

¤  Know your material well

Preparation: Tools

The interview: Set expectations

The interview

¤  Listen

¤  Observe

The interview

¤  Clarify

¤  Record quotes

The interview: Be ready for surprises

Reporting

¤  Summarize major themes

¤  Include quotes

¤  Deliver results in person

Advantages: process

¤  Sessions can be set up and run quickly

¤  Open to an iterative process

¤  Not dependent on developers

Advantages: data

¤  Data is from real users

¤  Opportunity to develop a deep understanding of users

Challenges

¤  Defining goals

¤  Getting the questions right

¤  Listening carefully

¤  Analyzing the data

Things to remember

¤  Prepare thoroughly

¤  Listen carefully

¤  Record quotes accurately