3 Acting Hacks for Better User Research
As a former theater kid, I am, for better or worse, well-versed in the stereotypical acting exercises like trust falls, animal interpretations, and elocution warm-ups. To be honest, they’re fun. And I miss them. Why don’t we pretend to be cats in our everyday work lives? #missedopportunity
So on a recent project, I pulled a few tricks from my old performance bag to prepare my team for a series of usability interviews. Some worked well, some were better kept in the bag. Here are the top 3 hacks that worked for us.
- LINE! When preparing for user interviews or your starring turn as Tree #3 in Midsummer Night’s Dream, it’s probably pretty obvious that practice makes perfect. You want the script you’re delivering to feel natural and the only way to do that is practice, practice, practice your interview shtick/questions until they’re lodged deeply in your head. Like in acting, it can help to think about your intent in that scene — or in this case, that section of the interview. What are you trying to get out of it? That can help you with the kinds of questions you need to ask even if you don’t get the exact phrasing the same every time. Basically, you should know the intent so well that the questions come to you naturally because, based on the role you’re playing and what you want to know, they are the only possible questions to ask in that moment. And because we don’t live in a perfect world, if you don’t have the time you need to practice, try creating a few cheat post-its with the goals on them like cue cards for yourself. You can crumple them up as they’re addressed so you don’t beat a dead horse. (Obviously, this works better in remote sessions than in in-person.)
2. What’s my motivation? When rehearsing your session, as silly as it may feel, it helps to have teammates play your potential interviewees. Whether an in-depth exploratory interview or a specific set of usability tasks, having your teammates play specific kinds of users helps you practice common challenges you may encounter. For instance, if you’re doing a usability test, have one of your teammates play the role of a non-talker. We’ve all encountered that participant who simply refuses to talk out loud — it’s just uncomfortable and unfamiliar to them — so why not practice coaxing them into speaking? And if you really want to go the extra mile, have your teammate wear post-it hats, mustaches, goatees, earrings, etc. It sounds ridiculous but even the smallest change in look will help your teammate commit to their character and help you suspend your disbelief, allowing you two to get into a realistic and productive practice session.
3. Be present. One of the most embarrassing stumbles in an interview is when you’re nervous and ask a question the user has already answered. It’s even worse when they point it out with a phrase like “well, like I said before…” Yikes. So above all else, be present in the conversation you’re having with the participant. Listen to what they’re saying and connect it to the goals of the session in your head. Just like in theater, the most important thing is to be in the moment, because even if you or your partner flub a line, if you’re in the moment, the audience will never know.
Of course, there are plenty more exercises and tricks to test out. Feel free to add some of your favorites in the comments below.
