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Nina Schacht

No matter whether you are new to the research scene or already have some experience, this course will help you excel in future research challenges and bring your project, product and start-up to a success.

Regardless which approach to innovation you or your company adopted, all approaches are based on the deep understanding of the wishes, needs and desires of the user. Entering a dialog with your present and future consumers is essential for any development or relaunch of products, applications and services. Consumer centricity is crucial for an economic deployment of your resources.

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No matter whether you are new to the research scene or already have some experience, this course will help you excel in future research challenges and bring your project, product and start-up to a success.

Regardless which approach to innovation you or your company adopted, all approaches are based on the deep understanding of the wishes, needs and desires of the user. Entering a dialog with your present and future consumers is essential for any development or relaunch of products, applications and services. Consumer centricity is crucial for an economic deployment of your resources.

During this course, you will learn how to become an ‘insight gold miner’ via qualitative interviews and unveil hidden truths. With accurate preparation and execution of user interviews, your research challenge will become a success.

Crafting the right questions for your interview is always a tailormade task. This course helps you to reach the goal of asking the right questions by helping you prepare properly.

The course is practice oriented. To increase the learning impact, the sessions include exercises as well as theoretical background.

The course takes you through the following topics:

  • Importance of research for the success of your business

  • Short introduction to qualitative methods

  • Mindset, researcher and research team

  • Business vs. research objectives

  • Setting up a research plan (To how many people should one speak and how to define it?)

  • Preparing the guideline for the interviews

  • The actual interview situation with what to look out for

  • 5 golden tips on how to ask the right questions

  • What is an analysis?

  • How to proceed in an analysis?

NOTE: this course focusses on qualitative research (e.g. interviews, in-depths), not on quantitative research (e.g. surveys).

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn how to ask the right questions in qualitative interviews with users and customers.
  • Successfully run a qualitative research process from the beginning to the end.
  • Work with a fictional research case to apply your skills in exercises
  • Learn about the sequence any research process needs to follow in order to be successful
  • Understand how to successfully pitch your research project and persuade potential naysayers
  • Build up knowledge on the three basic types of qualitative research approaches.
  • Learn how to spell out your business and research objectives to make sure you are always on the right track with your research and don’t get lost
  • Achieve clarity about the number of interviews you need to conduct for reliable results and to whom one should speak
  • Master the task of crafting the tailormade guideline you need for your interviews by following the steps given in the course.
  • Raise the feeling of security in the actual interview situation with the numerous tips & tricks given
  • Gain knowledge on how to proceed with the analysis of your interview including vivid examples
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Syllabus

Welcome
About the course
About the instructor

Learn about this course, the instructor and let's get started.

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In this video, I make clear why research is essential for the success of any business. I will provide you with a handy model which you can use in case you need to pitch research (internal as well as external).

In this video, I give you a quick overview of the three basic types of qualitative research and shed a light on different qualitative research methodologies. Only thought about face-to-face interviews up to now? There is way more you can do to understand your future users.

This chapter is about the mindset you should incorporate to conduct successful research and I give tips on the size of your research team.

With this chapter, we step into the preparation of research. I explain you the sequence any kind of research should follow – no matter how big or small your upcoming research is. I will explain what a business objective is and why it is so important that you carefully phrase it as a guiding star for your research. Then we will go into the topic of how to translate a business objective into research objectives. This chapter is full with rich and vivid examples.

In this video, I prepare you for your 1st exercise: translating the business objective of the fictional research case of this course into research objectives.

In this video, I will give you a recap of the exercise  ‘From business objectives to research objectives` and give you an example of how I would have approached the task.

In this video I talk about the target group (= your interview partners). I will help you gain clarity, tackle your target group and I talk about what you need to take into consideration to define it.

In this video, I will cover the important question of how many interviews you need in qualitative research. Additionally, I will explain you in-depth how to set up your research plan for your upcoming research challenge. I will give you tips and tricks on how to use your resources in an economic way. The chapter ends with an exercise: build a research plan for the fictional research case of this course.

In this video, I will give you a recap of the exercise  ‘Setting up a research plan’ and give you an example of how I would have approached the task.

With this video, we step into the next step of preparing successful research. I will explain why an interview guideline is of such essential importance. The video ends with an exercise for you: craft the 1st step to an interview guideline by elaborating about the structure of the interview.

In this video, I will give you a recap of the exercise  ‘1st step to an interview guideline` and give you an example of how I would have approached the task.

In this chapter, we will finalize the interview guideline and craft the actual questions to ask during the research. I will give you tips and tricks on how to handle it. The chapter ends with an exercise: phrase the actual questions you want to ask in the research.

In this video, I will give you a recap of the exercise `2nd step to an interview guideline` and give you an example of how I would have approached the task.

In this short but very important section of the course, I talk about your role as a researcher in the actual interview situation. I will give some basic tips & tricks on how to prepare and act during the interview. 

In this video, I will give you 5 golden rules on how to ask the right questions. I will give you vivid examples, tips & tricks and help you out with do’s and dont’s.

The analysis is the masterpiece of any kind of research. It is about time to interpret what you have learnt. In this video, I help you gain clarity on what an analysis is and which golden questions should guide you through your analysis. This chapter is full of vivid and tangible examples.

After having learnt in the previous chapter what an analysis is, this chapter covers the topic of how to proceed in an analysis. I give you very practical tips & tricks on which course of action to follow during your analysis.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a strong foundation in qualitative research methods, which is essential for understanding user behavior and needs in product development
Emphasizes the importance of user research for business success, which helps learners understand how to align product development with customer needs
Includes exercises and a fictional research case, which allows learners to apply their skills in a practical setting and reinforce their understanding
Focuses specifically on qualitative research methods, which may not be suitable for learners seeking a broader understanding of research methodologies
Requires learners to translate business objectives into research objectives, which may be challenging for those without a business background

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Reviews summary

Practical qualitative ux interview skills

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and actionable guide to conducting qualitative user experience interviews. Students appreciated the clear step-by-step structure and the focus on asking the right questions. Many found the exercises and the fictional case study particularly useful for applying the concepts learned in the well-organized lectures. While the course is described as an excellent starting point for beginners in UX research or qualitative methods, some reviewers with prior experience noted that it might be basic for more advanced practitioners. The course maintains a strict focus on qualitative interviews, which aligns with its description but is important context for prospective students seeking broader research coverage.
Strictly covers qualitative methods (interviews).
"It's important to note this course focuses solely on qualitative interviews, not other research methods."
"As stated in the description, this is all about qualitative - don't expect quantitative coverage."
"The course delivers exactly what it promises: how to ask the right questions in qualitative interviews."
Exercises and case study help apply learning.
"Working through the fictional case study was so helpful for practicing the steps myself."
"The exercises reinforced the concepts perfectly and made it feel less theoretical."
"I liked having the opportunity to apply what I learned immediately with the provided case."
"The practical exercises are a strong point of this course."
Instructor is knowledgeable and keeps you engaged.
"The instructor is fantastic - knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and easy to listen to."
"Her passion for UX research really comes through, making the lectures engaging."
"I felt like the instructor was genuinely invested in helping us learn."
"The instructor provides great examples and explains things in a relatable way."
Content is well-organized and easy to follow.
"The course is well-structured, guiding you step-by-step through the research process."
"I appreciated the logical flow of the modules, from planning to analysis."
"Everything was explained very clearly, making complex topics easy to understand."
"The instructor breaks down the process into manageable, clear steps."
Provides hands-on, applicable interview tips.
"This course was incredibly practical, offering concrete steps and tips I can use immediately in my work."
"I learned so many actionable strategies for structuring interviews and getting meaningful insights."
"The tips for asking questions and handling the interview situation are golden and easy to apply."
"I found the guidance on preparing for interviews and the golden rules for questions very useful."
Ideal for novices, may lack depth for experts.
"This course is an excellent introduction for anyone new to UX research interviews."
"As a beginner, I found this course provides a solid foundation."
"If you have some experience, you might find parts of this course quite basic."
"Great for getting started, but intermediate/advanced researchers might want more depth."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in User experience research: How to ask the right questions? with these activities:
Review Qualitative Research Methods
Reviewing qualitative research methods will provide a solid foundation for understanding the course material.
Show steps
  • Read articles or watch videos on qualitative research methodologies.
  • Summarize the key principles of different qualitative methods.
  • Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each method.
Read 'The Mom Test'
Reading 'The Mom Test' will help you understand how to ask unbiased questions and gather honest feedback from users.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book 'The Mom Test'.
  • Identify the key principles for conducting effective customer interviews.
  • Practice applying these principles in mock interview scenarios.
Participate in Peer Interview Practice
Practicing interviews with peers will provide valuable feedback and improve your interviewing skills.
Show steps
  • Find a partner who is also taking the course.
  • Take turns interviewing each other on a chosen topic.
  • Provide constructive feedback on each other's interviewing techniques.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Conduct a Mock User Interview
Conducting a mock user interview will provide hands-on experience in applying the principles learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Identify a potential user for your product or service.
  • Develop an interview guideline with open-ended questions.
  • Conduct the interview and record the responses.
  • Analyze the interview data and identify key insights.
Write a Blog Post on Interview Techniques
Writing a blog post will help you synthesize your knowledge and share it with others.
Show steps
  • Research different interview techniques and best practices.
  • Outline the key points you want to cover in your blog post.
  • Write the blog post, providing clear and concise explanations.
  • Edit and proofread your blog post before publishing.
Read 'Interviewing Users'
Reading 'Interviewing Users' will provide a comprehensive understanding of the user interview process.
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Interviewing Users'.
  • Identify the key steps in the user interview process.
  • Apply the book's principles to your own user research projects.
Create an Interview Analysis Report
Creating an interview analysis report will help you synthesize your findings and communicate them effectively.
Show steps
  • Transcribe the interview recordings.
  • Identify key themes and patterns in the interview data.
  • Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.
  • Present your report to stakeholders.

Career center

Learners who complete User experience research: How to ask the right questions? will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
User Researcher
A user researcher focuses on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through various research methods. This course helps aspiring user researchers learn how to conduct effective qualitative interviews, a crucial skill for gathering in-depth insights. The course's emphasis on crafting the right questions and preparing interview guidelines directly supports a user researcher's ability to uncover valuable user feedback. The course may be useful to translate business objectives into research objectives, which helps one to focus research efforts. Furthermore, the course's insights on analyzing interview results and presenting findings may be useful for communicating research insights to stakeholders.
Design Researcher
A design researcher uses research methods to inform the design process and ensure that designs are user-centered. This course may be useful for design researchers to hone their skills in qualitative research. This course may be useful for helping design researchers learn how to conduct user interviews, analyze research data, and translate findings into actionable design recommendations. A design researcher can improve their ability to gather valuable user insights. The course's emphasis on crafting interview guidelines can lead to more effective and focused research efforts.
Product Manager
A product manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product. This course helps product managers to deeply understand user needs through qualitative research. By learning how to ask the right questions in user interviews, a product manager can gather insights to inform product decisions. The course's emphasis on preparing interview guidelines helps ensure that research efforts are focused and efficient. The course may be useful for understanding the mindset needed to conduct successful research. By mastering these skills, a product manager can create products that better meet user needs.
UX Architect
A UX architect designs the overall structure and navigation of a website or application, ensuring a seamless user experience. This course helps UX architects to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By learning how to conduct effective user interviews, a UX architect can gain insights into how users navigate and interact with digital products. The course may be useful to gain clarity about the number of interviews needed. The course's emphasis on asking the right questions can help create user-centered architectures.
Usability Analyst
A usability analyst evaluates the ease of use of websites, software, and other interactive products. This course helps aspiring usability analysts refine their ability to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By learning how to ask the right questions in user interviews, a usability analyst can identify usability issues and areas for improvement. The course may be useful for usability analysts to develop their target group. The course's emphasis on preparing interview guidelines ensures that usability testing is focused and effective.
Product Owner
A product owner is responsible for maximizing the value of a product by defining and prioritizing features. This course helps product owners to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By learning how to conduct effective user interviews, a product owner can gain a deeper understanding of user needs and preferences. This course may be useful for learning about the importance of research. The course's emphasis on asking the right questions can help ensure that product decisions are based on user insights.
User Experience Designer
A user experience designer focuses on making products and services easy and enjoyable to use. This course may be useful for user experience designers to improve their ability to gather user feedback through qualitative research. The course's emphasis on asking the right questions during user interviews will help user experience designers to deeply understand user needs and pain points. The course's tips for efficient research will aid designers in crafting user-centered designs. By applying these skills, a user experience designer can create more intuitive and effective user experiences.
Service Designer
A service designer focuses on designing and improving services to meet customer needs and business objectives. This course helps enhance their ability to gather customer feedback through qualitative research. By learning how to conduct effective user interviews and analyze the results, a service designer can gain a deeper understanding of customer needs and pain points. This course may be useful for crafting tailormade interview guidelines. The course's emphasis on asking the right questions can lead to developing innovative service solutions.
Customer Experience Manager
A customer experience manager focuses on improving customer satisfaction and loyalty by creating positive experiences across all touchpoints. This course helps enhance their ability to gather customer feedback and understand customer needs through qualitative research. By mastering the art of asking the right questions in user interviews, a customer experience manager can uncover insights to improve the customer journey. This course may be useful for knowing how to proceed with the analysis of user interviews. By developing these skills, a customer experience manager can drive customer-centric improvements.
Interaction Designer
An interaction designer focuses on designing the interactive elements of digital products, ensuring they are intuitive and engaging. This course may be useful for interaction designers to enhance their ability to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By learning how to conduct effective user interviews and analyze the results, an interaction designer can gain a deeper understanding of user behaviors and preferences. This course may be useful for improving one's mindset to incorporate successful research principles. The course's emphasis on crafting interview guidelines helps interaction designers create user-centered designs that meet user needs.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. This course equips someone to gather valuable insights through qualitative interviews, enhancing their understanding of consumer preferences. This course may be useful for preparing and executing user interviews. Instruction on crafting targeted questions and conducting interviews can help a market research analyst gather meaningful data. The course's focus on analyzing results can help turn raw data into actionable insights.
Information Architect
An information architect organizes and structures information within websites and applications to ensure users can easily find what they need. This course may be useful for information architects to enhance their ability to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By understanding how to conduct effective user interviews and analyze the results, an information architect can gain insights into how users navigate and interact with information. This course may be useful for learning the sequence any research process needs to follow. The course can aid in creating user-centered information architectures that improve usability.
Digital Strategist
A digital strategist develops and implements digital marketing strategies to achieve business goals. This course may be useful for digital strategists who want to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By understanding how to conduct effective user interviews, a digital strategist can gain insights into user preferences and behaviors. The course may be useful for learning how to translate objectives into well-defined research aims. The course's emphasis on asking the right questions can ensure that digital strategies are data-driven and user-centered.
Content Strategist
A content strategist plans, develops, and manages content to achieve specific business goals. This course may be useful for content strategists to enhance their ability to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By understanding how to conduct effective user interviews and analyze the results, a content strategist can gain insights into what content resonates with users. This course may be useful for building up knowledge on qualitative research approaches. The course's emphasis on asking the right questions ensures that content strategies are informed by user needs.
UX Writer
A UX writer crafts clear and concise copy for user interfaces, ensuring that users can easily understand and interact with digital products. This course may be useful for UX writers to improve their ability to gather user feedback through qualitative research. By understanding how to conduct effective user interviews, a UX writer can gain insights into how users interpret and respond to different types of copy. This course may be useful for understanding how to pitch a research project. The course's emphasis on asking the right questions can ensure that UX writing is user-centered and effective.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in User experience research: How to ask the right questions?.
Offers a comprehensive guide to planning, conducting, and analyzing user interviews. It covers various aspects of the interview process, from recruiting participants to synthesizing findings. It valuable resource for UX researchers, designers, and product managers. The book provides a structured approach to user interviews, complementing the course's focus on asking the right questions.

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