A discussion guide is a roadmap for conducting an interview. It consists of a set of questions and topics that guide the conversation with the participant. A well-crafted discussion guide ensures that the interview covers all relevant areas and enables researchers to gather the necessary information. Here are some steps to create an effective discussion guide:

 

1. Introduction and Warm-up Questions:

Start with introducing yourself and explaining the purpose of the interview. Make the participant feel comfortable and give them an opportunity to ask questions. Prepare warm-up questions that can be used to build rapport and ease the participant into the interview process. These questions should be easy to answer and related to the participant's background or job role.

 

2. Exploratory Questions:

Exploratory questions delve deeper into the participant's experiences, opinions, and behaviours. These questions should be open-ended and encourage the participant to provide detailed responses. Group questions into common topics to help ensure a smooth flow of the interview. Start with general questions and gradually move towards more specific ones related to the research goals. Allocate time for each topic to keep the interview on track.

3. Probing and Follow-up Questions
Probing and follow-up questions are crucial for gathering in-depth insights. These questions allow researchers to dig deeper into specific areas of interest and explore participants' thoughts and motivations. Probing questions typically start with "why," "how," "what," "when," "where," or "who" to encourage participants to provide more detailed responses. By asking follow-up questions, researchers can clarify any unclear answers and uncover underlying reasons or motivations.

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4. Conclusion and Debrief
Wrap up the interview by thanking the participant for their time and explaining what will happen next with the feedback they provided. Offer the participant an opportunity to ask any additional questions or share any additional thoughts. If the participant is being compensated for their participation, provide details on how and when they will receive payment. Leave your contact information in case they have any follow-up thoughts or questions.

 

Conclusion

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User interviews are a valuable research method in UX design, providing insights into users' preferences, thoughts, and feelings. By creating an effective discussion guide, researchers can improve their chances of conducting user friendly interviews that can gather meaningful data from users to inform design decisions.