Steps
Once the research questions have been identified, it is important to plan for the in-depth interviews. This includes selecting the right participants, setting up the interview schedule, creating the interview guide, and preparing to record the sessions.
When selecting participants, it is important to ensure that they meet the criteria for the study and are representative of the target user group. It is also important to consider the size of the sample, as this will have an impact on the depth and breadth of the insights gained.
The interview schedule should ensure that there is enough time to cover all of the topics and questions identified in the research brief. It should also allow for some flexibility to explore unexpected topics that may arise during the interviews.
The interview guide should include the research questions and any prompts or probes that the interviewer may need to use. The guide should also provide guidance on how to conduct the interviews and how to record and analyse the data.
Finally, it is important to ensure that the sessions are recorded accurately and that the data is securely stored. This will enable the data to be analysed and used to inform design decisions.
Some tools
The tools for a thorough interview don’t have to be digital to work well 😁:
- A questionnaire – this can be used to ensure that all the key topics and questions are covered during the interview.
- A recording device – this will enable the session to be captured accurately and securely stored.
- An interview guide – this will provide guidance on how to conduct the interviews and how to record and analyse the data.
- A timer – this will ensure that the interviewer sticks to the allocated timeframe for the session.
- A codebook – this will help to code and analyse the data from the interviews.