The Generative Interview Questions and Tips

User interviews are widely recognised as a valuable research method for uncovering insights and addressing the questions we seek to explore. However, in my own experiences as a participant in user research, I have observed that interviewers sometimes struggle to elicit users’ experiences or identify their pain points effectively. As I prepare for an upcoming task involving generative user interviews, I would like to share some sample interview questions and some considerations to keep in mind during the interview process. I hope these insights will be helpful to both you and me in conducting insightful user interviews!

What questions to ask

In this section, I outline a selection of sample questions inspired by Steinar Kvale and Svend Brinkmann’s nine different types of questions. You can refer to them and adapt them to align with the specific goals and focus of your research. Remember to test your questions beforehand. This helps you evaluate the quality of insights obtained and identify areas for improvement.

1. Opening questions

• Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
• To start off, could you briefly describe your involvement or experiences related to …?
• How did you become interested in …?
• Can you describe the last time you…?
• What apps do you use on a regular basis?
• What are your primary goals when…