Goals And Questions

Planning UX Research Goals & Questions

• Research Goals Guide Interviews

• Key Questions to Consider

  • Who are users/what problems need solving?
  • What to learn from interviews?
  • Which pain points need investigation?

• Effective Goals Should

  • Focus on user processes/emotions
  • Identify common behaviors
  • Understand needs/frustrations

• Target Participant Characteristics

• Aim for “Representative Sample”

  • Manageable yet diverse group
  • Reflect real-world audience

• Consider

  • Age ranges
  • Location demographics
  • Usage patterns
  • Gender diversity
  • Accessibility needs

• Effective Interview Questions

• Five Key Characteristics

  • “Relevant” to problem being solved
  • “Open-ended” to encourage elaboration
  • “Neutral” to avoid leading responses
  • “Clear” and conversational
  • “Designed for follow-up”

• Follow-up Techniques

  • “Tell me more about that”
  • Who/What/When/Where/Why/How questions

• Example Structure (Zia’s Pizza)

• Goals

  • Understand schedule/meal planning challenges
  • Identify restaurant ordering frustrations

• Questions

  • Schedule balance with meal planning
  • Ordering frequency and motivation
  • Process challenges and feelings
  • Potential solutions

Well-planned research foundations enable effective user interviews and meaningful insights. Taking time to prepare thoughtful interview plans that align with project goals and user needs leads to better design outcomes.