Method guideUX Research

User Interviews

A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.

ComplexityLow

Time30–60 min per interview

Participants1 participant per interview

FormatWorkshop + async

MaturityCanonical

Plan research

Prerequisite

What needs to be finished first

Complete firstA concrete learning goal

The research question, relevant situation and intended use of findings are named.

A broad topic makes focused follow-up and traceable analysis difficult.

Complete firstRelevant people and participation arrangements

Selection criteria, access to participants, voluntary participation and handling of notes or recordings are agreed.

Participant selection limits the experiences covered by the findings.

Complete firstTime for analysis

Immediate follow-up and shared synthesis have a place in the research plan.

Unconnected accounts offer limited support for decisions.

Preparation

What needs to be ready before start

Materials

Research question, flexible guide, contact and appointment plan, and a note template. Record only with agreed consent and appropriate access to the storage location.

People / roles

One person interviews and one participant shares their experience. An additional person may take notes with consent. The research owner coordinates selection, analysis and use of findings.

Pre-read

Collect existing knowledge and assumptions, identify relevant experiences for recruitment, and distinguish research questions from the questions asked in an interview.

Time needed

Allow roughly 30 to 60 minutes per interview. Plan recruitment, the guide, immediate follow-up and synthesis separately; a complete round may span several days.

Setup

Explain purpose, process, voluntary participation and data handling clearly. Create a quiet setting, pilot the guide and avoid interruptions.

Core question

The one question this method answers

Which experiences, needs and motivations shape this situation, and what do we still need to learn?

Flow

Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall

User interviews collect traceable accounts of needs, decisions, and difficulties through listening and follow-up questions. Individual statements stay connected to their context and open research questions.

Guide and note structure

Fictional teaching example

Fictional excerpt from research on borrowing tools. The text demonstrates document structure; it is not collected evidence.

Research focus

Name the question, situation and relevant experiences.

Fictional: How are tools organized for a repair at short notice?

Opening and arrangements

Clarify purpose, voluntary participation, time and note handling.

Fictional: We want to understand a specific borrowing experience. Questions may be skipped; notes are used only within the agreed arrangements.

Interview prompts

Ask openly about the last specific case and explore its sequence.

Fictional: How did you find suitable tools for your last repair? What happened next? Where did you need to ask for clarification?

Source-linked note

Record participant code, context, account, interpretation and open question separately.

Fictional: F1 reports checking the reservation. Interpretation: availability might matter. Open question: what role did time pressure play?

Add topics and follow-ups that serve the learning goal. Keep interpretation separate from participant accounts.

Methodatlas teaching template based on GOV.UK

1
Frame
Define learning and participants
Goal
The round addresses a concrete question relevant to a decision.
Inputs for this step
- An open product or service question
- Existing knowledge of the situation
Actions
- Focus the learning goal and situation; name the decisions the research could support.
- Describe relevant experiences as selection criteria. Plan differing perspectives, access and voluntary participation.
Output
Research focus
Question · situation · selection criteria · open gaps
Quality check
Do participants have experience relevant to the question? Are coverage and visible selection biases named?
Pitfall
Easily reached people are treated as the whole target population. Explain selection and seek missing perspectives.
Timing: A preparation block; recruitment and scheduling may take additional days.
2
Prepare
Pilot the guide
Goal
The guide supports an open and focused conversation.
Inputs for this step
- Research focus and selection criteria
- Existing knowledge and visible assumptions
Actions
- Arrange topics into a natural conversation; ask about specific past situations.
- Pilot the guide and revise leading questions. Prepare the opening, consent, note-taking and closing.
Output
Piloted interview guide
Topic · open question · possible follow-up · note field
Quality check
Can questions invite unexpected answers? Are notes and recordings handled by agreement?
Pitfall
A question already includes the desired answer or a preferred solution. Ask neutrally about a specific experience, then explore it further.
Timing: Schedule drafting and a pilot before the interviews.
3
Listen
Explore specific experiences
Goal
Individual accounts retain their context.
Inputs for this step
- A relevant participant and agreed arrangements
- Guide, available time and a way to take notes
Actions
- Clarify purpose and participation; let the person describe a specific situation in their own sequence.
- Ask openly about actions, reasons and difficulties. Record statements with context and keep your interpretations separate.
Output
Attributable interview notes
Participant code · context · account · follow-up · interpretation
Quality check
Is a concrete case understandable? Can reports, direct observation and interpretation be distinguished?
Pitfall
General praise or hypothetical intentions are treated as proven use. Return to a specific recent case and record remaining uncertainty.
Timing: Allow roughly 30 to 60 minutes per interview, plus immediate follow-up.
4
Synthesize
Check patterns and contrasts
Goal
Insights can be traced to their sources.
Inputs for this step
- Completed notes and source references
- Research question and documented selection
Actions
- Expand notes promptly and organize statements by topic. Describe connections as provisional interpretations.
- Compare similar and contrasting cases. Connect evidence, counterexamples and open questions to each claim.
Output
Traceable synthesis
Theme · evidence · contrast · interpretation · open question
Quality check
Are sources and contradictory cases preserved? Is the scope of the claim suitably limited?
Pitfall
A memorable statement displaces the other experiences. Check the pattern against relevant cases and retain differences.
Timing: Reserve follow-up blocks after interviews and time for shared synthesis.
5
Apply
Use the learning
Goal
Decisions consider both insights and their limits.
Inputs for this step
- Synthesis with evidence and open questions
- An upcoming product or service decision
Actions
- Share findings with participant selection, context and uncertainty. State which decision they can inform.
- Choose the next learning step and owner for a relevant gap; add observation or quantitative investigation when needed.
Output
Learning and next steps
Insight · scope · decision · open question · owner
Quality check
Does the evidence support the conclusion? Is the next learning step concrete?
Pitfall
A few conversations are presented as a representative market statistic or purchase proof. Limit the claim to the studied cases and obtain suitable evidence for broader questions.
Timing: A focused synthesis and decision block as needed.

Artifact

What comes out at the end

Sketch: what the artifact looks like

User Interviews · Qualitative ResearchLeitfaden, konkrete Geschichten, Beobachtungsnotizen und Synthese-Findings sauber trennen

Form

A research folder containing the learning goal, selection rationale, guide versions, attributable notes, and a synthesis of patterns, contrasting cases and open questions.

Versioning / ownership

Date the research round and guide versions. Use neutral participant codes and keep contact information separately. Document changes and the scope of each insight.

Tool alternatives

Paper guide and notebook
Shared document with one note page per interview
Research repository with controlled access and source references

Example output

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.

user-interviews-beispiel.md

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional teaching example: borrowing neighborhood tools

All details and accounts are invented. No research was conducted.

Learning question: How do households organize tools for occasional repairs?

Interview prompt: The participant describes their last specific case from initial search to return.

Example note F1: The person reports checking again for a firm reservation confirmation before traveling to the collection point.

Our interpretation: Reliable availability might matter for planning. This interpretation needs investigation.

Contrasting case F2: Another person describes spontaneous borrowing without a reservation.

Next learning step: Compare time-sensitive cases and spontaneous borrowing. These accounts cannot establish population frequency or actual willingness to book.

Pitfalls

Recognize symptoms and steer against them

Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow

Define learning and participantsEasily reached people are treated as the whole target population.View in phase
Pilot the guideA question already includes the desired answer or a preferred solution.View in phase
Explore specific experiencesGeneral praise or hypothetical intentions are treated as proven use.View in phase
Check patterns and contrastsA memorable statement displaces the other experiences.View in phase
Use the learningA few conversations are presented as a representative market statistic or purchase proof.View in phase