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Keep in mind that the purpose of a qualitative interview is not to get the informant to answer the interview questions. Rather, the purpose is to listen to their stories so that [you] can acquire an understanding of how their experiences unfolded, and the meanings that they associated with these experiences.

Roseanne E.Roberts Qualitative Interview Questions: Guidance for Novice Researchers

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Designing interview questions

When designing interview questions for a human-centered design research process, there are several key things to keep in mind:

• [ ] Use open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses rather than simple yes/no answers. This allows participants to share their experiences and perspectives more fully.
  • "Can you walk me through your typical process for X?"
  • "What challenges have you encountered when trying to accomplish Y?"
• [ ] Frame questions neutrally to avoid influencing the participant's response. Steer clear of questions that make assumptions or push the participant toward a particular answer.
  • Instead of: "Don't you find the current system frustrating to use?"
  • Ask: "How would you describe your experience using the current system?"
• [ ] Center questions around specific behaviors, experiences, and contexts rather than hypotheticals or generalizations. This provides more actionable insights.
  • "Can you tell me about the last time you encountered this issue?"
  • "Walk me through how you typically approach this task."
• [ ] Tailor questions to the participant's specific role, environment, and experiences. You can frame questions in a way that invites participants to share stories and anecdotes. This often reveals richer insights than direct questioning. Example: "Can you tell me about a time when..."

Visualizing the Interview. Source: Lab @ OPM.

Understanding the relevance of your interview questions

How to do an interview?

Getting ready:

• [ ] Plan your questions: Consider your key research questions and what you want to know. It is essential to ask open-ended questions like "Tell me about..." with backups like "Why is that important?"
• [ ] Be mindful of interviewees’ emotions/experience: While writing questions and the interview script, ensure that the questions are respectful and not intrusive to any interviewees’ experiences.

During the Interview:

• [ ] Set the context: Introduce yourself and the reasons for the interview before starting the conversation. As an interviewer, set clear intentions and create psychological safety for your participants.
• [ ] Listen carefully: Let the person you're talking to lead the conversation. Pauses are okay. They help them think. Pay attention to what they say and how they say it. You can learn more about listening in research here.
• [ ] Stay on track: Use your planned questions to cover everything necessary. Ask "Why?" and "How?" to learn more.

Some videos to get you thinking about how you can think about learning from people and about their challenges:

Five User Interview Mistakes to Avoid (in 5 Minutes)

Designing for a more equitable world | Antionette Carroll

A Sample Interview & Conversation Guide

• Introduction & ground rules
  • Introduce yourself and the project/effort in basic terms, such as how long the conversation should take and whether you are taking notes or recording it.
    • Share some ground rules to set the context and make the participant feel more comfortable:
    • All answers are good answers, no right/wrong. Everything you share will help build a better experience.
    • You can stop this interview at any time.
    • Everything you share will be kept anonymous/ confidential (only if true!)
  • Ask if the interviewee has any questions and if it is okay with them to start.