30 Essential User Interview Questions (with Expert Follow-ups) for UX Research

User interviews are a critical part of UX research, providing direct insights into users' needs, motivations, and pain points. But knowing exactly which questions to ask can make all the difference. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of carefully categorised, expertly crafted user interview questions, alongside professional follow-up tips to help you dig deeper.

Screening Questions

These questions help identify suitable participants:

1. Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your role/job?

2. How often do you use [product/service type]?

3. What tools or services are you currently using to achieve [specific goal]?

Expert Tip: Keep these brief but informative to ensure alignment with your study's goals.

Discovery Questions

Designed to uncover the broader context of user needs and behaviours:

1. Walk me through a typical day when you use [product/service].

2. What initially prompted you to start using [product/service]?

3. Can you describe a recent experience you had with [product/service]?

4. What’s the most frustrating part of using [product/service]?

5. What do you love most about [product/service]?

Expert Tip: Listen carefully to frustrations; these reveal critical areas for improvement.

Task-Specific Questions

These questions reveal detailed insights about specific tasks or actions:

1. Can you show me how you typically [specific task]?

2. What do you expect to happen when you perform [specific task]?

3. How easy or difficult do you find [specific task], and why?

4. What do you wish you could do differently about [specific task]?

Expert Tip: Combine observation with these questions if possible for deeper insights.

Follow-Up Questions

To delve deeper and clarify insights, use:

1. Can you elaborate more on that?

2. Why did you choose to do it that way?

3. How often does that issue come up for you?

4. Could you give me an example?

Expert Tip: These questions often reveal valuable hidden motivations or issues.

Emotional & Motivational Questions

Explore underlying motivations and emotional triggers:

1. How do you feel when using [product/service]?

2. What would happen if you couldn't use [product/service] anymore?

3. What's the main reason you keep using [product/service]?

4. What would make you consider switching to an alternative?

Expert Tip: Emotional drivers significantly influence user behaviour; don’t overlook these.

Closing Questions

Wrap up with actionable insights and reflections:

1. If you could change one thing about [product/service], what would it be?

2. What feature or improvement would you most like to see added?

3. Is there anything important we haven't discussed yet?

Expert Tip: These questions often highlight key user priorities clearly.

Using the GRAMS Framework to Structure Interviews

To elevate your user interviews, consider using the GRAMS framework, created by Gary van Broekhoven:

- Goals: What are your user's ultimate goals?

- Reality: What does their daily reality look like?

- Alternatives: What alternatives or past solutions have they considered or used?

- Motivations: What deeper motivations underpin their actions?

- Struggles: What struggles do they encounter regularly?

By structuring your follow-up questions around GRAMS, you'll systematically uncover valuable insights that casual questioning might miss.

Expert Tips for Effective Interviews

- Always ask open-ended questions to encourage rich, detailed responses.

- Keep your questions neutral; avoid bias or leading questions.

- Practice active listening—reflect back on what the participant shares to ensure clarity and depth.

Quick Do’s and Don’ts

- Do: Allow silence after questions—participants often provide deeper insights given space.

- Don’t: Interrupt; always wait for the participant to finish.

- Do: Take detailed notes or record sessions (with permission).

- Don’t: Stick rigidly to your script; let the conversation flow naturally.

By using these targeted questions and structuring your approach with GRAMS, you'll significantly enhance the depth and quality of insights from your user interviews, enabling better UX design decisions and outcomes.

Check out our course on Interviewing Users