Being an effective interviewer is essential for gathering valuable insights from participants while conducting qualitative user research. Here are some not so obvious tips on how to improve your interviewing skills:
Learn from your last interviews
Re-watch your sessions from time to time and give yourself honest feedback on where you could do better. This is a great way to catch your own behavior in action and improve. We all know it’s strange to look at yourself while at work, but give it a try!
Stay neutral but human
Maintain a balance between neutrality and being yourself during the interview. It is important to avoid displaying any biases and stay neutral to create a comfortable environment for the participant to share their honest opinions. However, it is also essential to remember that you are human, and participants can relate better to someone who is approachable. Therefore, try to maintain a neutral version of yourself while being comfortable during the interview. Participants can tell if you are being comfortable.
Adapt your approach
Depending on the research project, you may need a different type of neutrality and empathy. For example, interviewing cancer treatment patients might require a different type of empathy than interviewing mobile gamers. Contemplate a type of problem you will be speaking about and adjust accordingly.
Create a culture of giving feedback
Have an open conversation with your colleagues about what could be improved. This will help everyone improve their skills and foster a culture of continuous learning.
Practice active listening
During the interview, focus on active listening by avoiding the urge to interrupt or lead the participant with your own opinions. As the interviewer, your role is to provide a stage for the participant's words. Therefore, it is essential to listen carefully to what they are saying without any preconceived notions or need to respond immediately. This will help create an environment where the participant feels heard and understood, and you can gain valuable insights from their perspective.
Practice the script beforehand:
Practice the interview script so you can read it naturally, without awkward pauses or breaks that can disrupt the flow of the conversation.
Nod and smile
Acknowledge the participant's words with a nod and a gentle smile. This lets them know they are being heard and understood.
Use and find open-ended questions that work best for you
Use open-ended questions that encourage participants to share their experiences and thoughts in their own words and most importantly fine the ones that suits you best.
Practice, practice, practice
The more you practice, the more confident you will become as an interviewer. Reflect on how did you feel during the interview as well.
