1. The User Interview
The only real cost is your time
Katherine Wahl
Usability Consultant, MIT
UPA 2012, Las Vegas

2. Versatility

3. Versatility: Location

4. Versatility: Format
¤ Questions
¤ Structured or unstructured
¤ Workflow or task oriented

5. Versatility: Format

6. Versatility: Timing
Project Timeline
Requirements Alpha/Beta
Prototyping, Release, QA,
gathering & Coding Docs &
spec creation design
Training

7. Preparation

8. Preparation: Goals
¤ Set reasonable goals
¤ Discuss them with your client
¤ Good chance to make clear what NOT to expect

9. Preparation: Participants
¤ Define your audience
¤ Pad your schedule
¤ Confirm your appointments

10. Preparation: Questions
¤ Draft and revise your questions
¤ Be mindful of bias
¤ Think about timing
¤ Know your material well

11. Preparation: Tools

12. The interview: Set expectations

13. The interview
¤ Listen
¤ Observe

14. The interview
¤ Clarify
¤ Record quotes

15. The interview: Be ready for surprises

16. Reporting
¤ Summarize major themes
¤ Include quotes
¤ Deliver results in person

17. Advantages: process
¤ Sessions can be set up and run quickly
¤ Open to an iterative process
¤ Not dependent on developers

18. Advantages: data
¤ Data is from real users
¤ Opportunity to develop a deep understanding of users

19. Challenges
¤ Defining goals
¤ Getting the questions right
¤ Listening carefully
¤ Analyzing the data

20. Things to remember
¤ Prepare thoroughly
¤ Listen carefully
¤ Record quotes accurately