Want to become a question asking ninja? Asking questions is a vital skill for all UX researchers and digital designers to master. Asking questions is at the heart of uncovering ideas and opportunities that can then be translated into digital products and services, software and interfaces. Here are some practical tips to answer: 1. What makes a good question? 2. How can I get better answers from my questions? 3. How can I get better at asking questions?

1. UX Camp Brighton 2016 I #UXCB16
Chris How I @chrishow
How to get better answers
from asking better questions
Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project

2. In this session I’m going to give practical tips
to answer (with your help):
1. What makes a good question?
2. How can I get better answers from my questions?
3. How can I get better at asking questions?
Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project

3. If I had an hour to solve a
problem and my life
depended on it, I would
use the first 55 minutes to
determine the proper
questions to ask.
Albert Einstein

4. Judge a man by his
questions rather than by
his answers.
Voltaire

5. The answers you get
depend on the questions
you ask.
Thomas S. Kuhn

6. What makes a good question?
Eight factors to consider
Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project

7. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
ends in a
question mark
1/8

8. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Check your facilitation guide / survey /
interview questions to make sure they
start with or include either a:
Why, How, Where, Who, What, When.
You might be amazed how often this isn’t
the case.

9. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
has a purpose
2/8

10. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Write a statement for the purpose of the
research. Review your questions against it.
For each question make a note on why you are
asking it. If you don’t know why you are asking
a question delete it.
Highlight your most essential question(s) to
spend more time to probe in depth.

11. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
gives insight that
is actionable
3/8

12. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
It’s easy to take up too much time enjoying a
chat. Remember why you are there. Spend
your time getting answers that inform your
thinking on the project.
Don’t ask interviewees for design solutions.
Rather understand their problems that your
design should solve.

13. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
opens up a
conversation
4/8

14. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Spot and edit question types that limit answers.
Re-phase if not intentional:
- Closed questions e.g. Do you like drinking
tea in the morning? What was the last book
you read?
- Close-ended questions e.g. Do you prefer
tea or coffee?

15. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
is neutral and
free of bias
5/8

16. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Spot and edit question types that limit answers.
Re-write to remove bias:
- Leading e.g. Would you agree . . ? Do you
think . . .?
- Charged words e.g. Tell me what you think of
our exciting new design?’

17. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
is interesting
6/8

18. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
As you have to listen to multiple people
respond to the same questions make sure
they are interesting to ask and to answer.
Look out for changes in body language that
indicate engagement or boredom with the
question.
If an interviewee says ‘that’s a good question’
take note and re-use in other projects.

19. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
is short
7/8

20. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Ask one thing at a time. Short questions are
easier to listen to and understand (and
analyse).
Review your questions to look out for:
- ands (avoid compound sentences)
- commas (avoid subordinate clauses)
- questions with more than 12 words

21. A good question
?Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project
can be answered
8/8

22. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Questions should help you learn not show off.
Don’t make interviewees feel stupid. Be careful
of jargon (client, sector, UX & digital words).
Ask questions based on the interviewees
experiences and behaviours. Avoid asking for
conjecture or future predictions. ‘What do you
do’ over ‘what would you do’.
Get people to show you rather than tell you.

23. How can I get better answers from my questions?
My five top tips
Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project

24. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Listen and observe more
than you talk.
Use the power of silence.
1/5 How can I get better answers from my questions?

25. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Be aware of moderation
bias. Avoid prompting,
leading and confirming.
2/5 How can I get better answers from my questions?

26. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Ask fewer questions but go
deeper. Use the five whys.
3/5 How can I get better answers from my questions?

27. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Know your killer question
and when to ask it.
4/5 How can I get better answers from my questions?

28. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Empower the interviewee.
Unlock insight through
interest and empathy.
5/5 How can I get better answers from my questions?

29. How can I get better at asking questions?
My five top tips
Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project

30. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Do more of it.
Improvement comes with
practice and reflection.
1/5 How can I get better at asking questions?

31. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Listen back critically to
session recordings of
yourself. However
experienced you are you’ll
find things to improve upon.
2/5 How can I get better at asking questions?

32. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
After each project reflect on
which questions gave the
best insight and why. Keep
an ongoing list, iterate and
re-use good questions.
3/5 How can I get better at asking questions?

33. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Find time to watch other
practitioners in action.
Live or recorded.
Experienced colleagues and
those starting out.
4/5 How can I get better at asking questions?

34. ?t i p
Icon created by Till Teenck
from Noun Project
Stretch yourself. Build your
toolkit by asking a new
question or trying a new
activity in your next project.
5/5 How can I get better at asking questions?

35. UX Camp Brighton 2016 I #UXCB16
Chris How I @chrishow
Thanks for listening
Any questions?
Icon created by Rico Reinhold
from Noun Project