Article
User Interviews 101
Maria Rosala and Kara Pernice · Nielsen Norman Group Free Beginner
A concise, practical primer on structuring an interview, from writing questions to avoiding leading language to taking useful notes. It is the reference to send a cofounder or early hire who has never run an interview before. Read it alongside the Mom Test for the mechanics the Mom Test assumes you already know.
- Ask open-ended questions and let silence sit, do not rush to fill pauses.
- Separate the note taker role from the questioner role when you can.
- Avoid asking people to predict their own future behavior, ask about the past instead.
