What kind of questions should be avoided during user interviews?

Leading questions should be avoided during user interviews because they can skew the responses and influence the direction of the conversation. Leading questions imply a particular answer or steer the respondent towards a specific viewpoint, which compromises the integrity of the data collected. The goal of user interviews is to gather honest and unbiased feedback, and leading questions can create a scenario where users feel pressured to agree with the interviewer’s assumptions or suggestions rather than express their true thoughts and experiences.

In contrast, open-ended questions encourage participants to share their views in their own words, fostering richer insights. Clarifying questions help ensure the interviewer has a correct understanding of what the user said, and multiple-choice questions can limit responses or force users into predefined categories, which may not accurately reflect their thoughts. Therefore, avoiding leading questions is essential for collecting valid and reliable user feedback.