User interviews (Part 4) — Tools used and artefacts created
When I was working for one of the BFSI client, I had to prepare a case study of the complete UX research process that was carried out. I was gathering all the artefacts that I created to put in my study. That was when I realised that me and my team had used a wide variety of tools to create more than 100 artefacts during the user interview phase. And, I understood that the interview process starts way before the actual interview with the user which includes preparations and go further beyond the interviews like creation of artefacts for various stakeholders to communicate the outcome of the interviews. In the entire process multiple tools are used and artefacts are created as a part of the process. In this blog, let us look into some of the tools used and artefacts created before and after the interviews.
Tools
To conduct any user interview successfully, there are several tools that can be used ranging from traditional pen and paper methods to digital tools. By choosing the right tool for the job, you can conduct interviews that are efficient, effective, and tailored to your specific research objectives. Following is a list of tools that can be used.
Pen and paper
Pen and paper is a simple and low-tech option for conducting user interviews. It allows you to take notes and record the user’s responses in a structured format that can be easily analysed later.
Voice recorder
A voice recorder can be used to record the user’s responses during the interview. This is particularly useful for capturing detailed responses that may be missed when taking notes.
Video recorder
A video recorder can be used to capture the user’s body language and facial expressions during the interview. This can provide valuable insights into the user’s emotions and attitudes.
Online survey tools
Online survey tools, such as SurveyMonkey and Google Forms, can be used to conduct remote user interviews. This is particularly useful for reaching a geographically diverse user base.
User research software
User research software, such as User interviews and Optimal workshop, can be used to conduct user interviews and other types of user research. These tools provide a range of features, including recruitment, scheduling, and analysis.
Artefacts
During a user interview, several artefacts can be created to help capture and organise the data gathered. These artefacts are useful for analysing the data, identifying patterns, and communicating the insights to stakeholders. Here are some common artefacts created for a user interview.
Interview guide
An interview guide is a structured set of questions and prompts that are used to guide the conversation during the user interview. The interview guide helps to ensure that all relevant topics are covered and that the data gathered is consistent across participants.
Notes
Notes are taken during the user interview to capture the participant’s responses and insights. The notes may be written on paper or in a digital format, depending on the tool used to conduct the interview.
Transcripts
Transcripts are a written record of the user interview, including the questions asked and the participant’s responses. Transcripts are useful for analysing the data and identifying patterns and trends.
Audio or video recordings
Audio or video recordings can be made during the user interview to capture the participant’s responses and body language. These recordings can provide valuable insights into the participant’s emotions and attitudes.
Mind maps
Mind maps are a visual representation of the data gathered during the user interview. They can be used to identify patterns and relationships between different concepts.
Affinity diagrams
Affinity diagrams are a visual tool for organising and grouping data based on common themes or categories. They are useful for identifying patterns and trends in the data.
User personas
User personas are fictional representations of the different types of users who may use the product or service. User personas are based on the data gathered during the user interviews and are useful for guiding the design process.
User journey map
User journey map is a UX visualisation document that showcases the steps that a user takes in a process to accomplish a goal.
In summary, by using the tools and creating the artefacts that we discussed, we can ensure that the interviews are efficiently conducted and data gathered during the interviews are effectively captured, organised, and communicated to stakeholders. This will help to inform the design of the product or service and ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of the users.
User interviews is a four part series in which I have covered various aspects of user interview research method, coupled with some of the experiences I had during the interview processes, under the following topics;
- User interviews (Part 1) — An introduction
- User interviews (Part 2) — Why, when and when not!
- User interviews (Part 3) — How to conduct user interviews?
- User interviews (Part 4) — Tools used and artefacts created (Your are at the end of this article)
