16 UX research interview questions and answers

User experience (UX) researchers provide insights that shape a digital product’s core design and interface. Hiring an unsuitable candidate for this role can damage how users view and rate your product, making it difficult to attract and retain customers. 

It’s vital to create an airtight assessment process before hiring candidates for this role. The right interview questions can help you dive deeper into a candidate’s experiences, verify their knowledge with concrete examples, and evaluate their ability to respond to the different challenges faced by UX research teams. 

We share 16 powerful UX research interview questions (with responses to look for) that you can incorporate into your hiring process to make effective and objective hiring decisions starting today. 

16 UX research interview questions and answers

These questions assess candidates on their UX/UI skills, research knowledge, empathy, communication skills, ethical practices, and more. 

1. Tell me about a time when you had to pick between using a qualitative research method and a quantitative method. How did you make the decision and what was the outcome?

Focus on a candidate’s ability to evaluate the trade-offs between qualitative methods, such as user interviews, and quantitative methods of research, such as surveys. 

Look for specific examples of how they chose the method that best aligned with the project’s requirements. Candidates should also be able to communicate their thought process clearly and explain how the chosen method led to the desired outcome. 

2. When designing a research study, how do you come up with an appropriate set of research questions? 

Good candidates will frame questions from a user’s perspective and ensure they are tailored to project goals. Candidates should also touch on different types of questions, such as rating scales, yes/no, and open-ended questions, and explain how they use different questions depending on project needs. 

Additionally, look for candidates who emphasize the importance of asking probing questions to uncover deeper user insights.

3. What UX research tools or software have you previously worked with? Describe your experience with them. 

Prioritize candidates who are proficient in a range of UX research software, such as survey tools, like Qualtrics, usability testing software, such as Lookback, or prototyping and wireframing tools, such as Adobe XD or Figma. Plus points if they’re experienced with tools stated on your UX research job description. 

Look for clear examples of how these tools improved efficiency or data quality. Finally, consider whether candidates can adapt to different tools based on project needs and how quickly they can learn and adopt new tools. 

4. Explain the concept of usability heuristics. How do you use them to evaluate and improve the usability of a product?

Candidates should demonstrate a solid understanding of usability heuristics, such as consistency in design, recognition over recall, user control and freedom, and so on. 

Look for real-life examples of heuristics they’ve previously employed to improve a product’s user-friendliness. The best candidates will emphasize the importance of aligning heuristics with user needs and preferences.   

5. What role does A/B testing play in UX research, and what impact does it have on the design process?

Great answers will indicate clearly how A/B testing involves comparing two or more variations of a design element to evaluate which performs better in terms of engagement, conversion, and other key metrics.  

Candidates should explain how A/B testing can be used to refine and optimize user interfaces, providing examples from their previous experiences. Importantly, look for data-driven decision-making through A/B testing. 

6. How do you approach user testing for a product or feature still in the conceptual stage, without a functional prototype? 

An ideal response will showcase a candidate’s ability to think creatively and design testing methods that can yield valuable insights without a prototype. 

Look out for suggestions, such as paper prototyping, wireframing, storyboarding, card sorting, and so on. Also, good candidates will clearly convey how insights from early-stage testing can contribute to iterative design improvements. Concrete, real-life examples are a plus. 

7. Describe a scenario where you encountered a user who was frustrated with a product you were researching. What steps did you take to address the situation?

A good candidate should describe a situation where they applied empathy but stayed neutral, logical, and diplomatic. 

Top talent will be proactive about getting to the root of the problem and turning user feedback into actionable insights for the UX/UI design team. Those who follow up with users are reliable and tend to go above and beyond in their role. 

8. Describe how you collaborate with the design team to incorporate user feedback into the design process. 

First and foremost, the best candidates will emphasize the importance of collaborating with design teams to integrate research insights into the design iteration cycle. 

Further, look for examples where they’ve clearly and persuasively communicated user feedback, needs, and pain points to UX designers, and how this collaboration led to improved designs.

9. How do you remain unbiased in your research and avoid personal assumptions or judgments about users? 

Great candidates will know what biases to look out for, such as confirmation bias, selection bias, observer effect, and so on. They’ll also show self-awareness in recognizing the role of their own personal biases and outline clear strategies to maintain objectivity in their research. 

10. Describe a situation where you identified a research problem that required unique or unconventional research methods. How did you approach it?

A suitable candidate will provide a clear-cut example of a problem that requires unconventional research methods. For example, using role-play or persona testing when it’s not possible to access their target group, or conducting ethnographic field studies when they need to evaluate users in their natural setting. 

Assess how candidates can think and act on their feet, come up with creative solutions, and adapt their approach thoughtfully – carefully considering all the risks associated with deviating from the norm.

11. Imagine you're working to a tight deadline for a project that requires extensive user testing and you’re behind schedule on participant recruitment. How would you handle this situation?

Suitable candidates will propose well-thought-out strategies, such as using existing user pools, seeking support from external agencies, or working extended hours.

They should also discuss the importance of transparently communicating the delay to stakeholders. Plus points if a candidate attempts to understand the underlying causes for the delay and discusses contingency plans for similar scenarios in the future. 

12. How do you ensure that your UX research adequately represents a diverse user base? 

Ideal responses will evidence strategies, such as using inclusive sampling methods, tailoring testing materials to be culturally sensitive, offering research sessions in multiple languages or with accessibility support, and so on. 

Depending on project requirements, this may include geographical, gender, age, ethnicity, and other diversity factors.

13. How do you leverage emerging technologies to enhance the UX research process? Can you provide a specific example?

Seek evidence of the applicant’s knowledge of emerging technologies, such as virtual reality, eye-tracking, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and so on. 

Importantly, candidates should be able to provide specific use cases for these technologies in improving UX research methods and outcomes – for instance, how VR enables more natural and realistic user interactions and responses.

14. Have you had any experience with remote UX research methods and tools? How do you ensure the validity of research conducted remotely?

Good answers will indicate experience with remote research methods, such as online surveys, remote interviews, and remote usability tools, such as UserZoom, Maze, and so on. Candidates should be able to analyze the pros and cons of these methods. 

Candidates should also discuss their approach to engaging remote participants effectively, ensuring data validity through rigorous research protocol, standardized processes, and recording tools. Plus points for being mindful of data security and privacy concerns. 

15. What steps do you take to ensure the ethical collection and use of user data in your research? Can you share an example of a project where you had to address ethical concerns?

The right candidates will discuss the importance of obtaining informed consent from participants, anonymizing and encrypting data, adhering to privacy regulations, such as GDPR and HIPPA, and other methods to safeguard user data and privacy in a specific project they conducted. 

16. How do you approach your own professional development and continuous learning in UX research?

The best talent will specify the methods they use to support their ongoing professional development – for instance, UX/UI-related courses, industry conferences, reading materials, mentoring, and so on. 

Assess if they’re using relevant methods to upskill and increase their knowledge. Plus points for those who demonstrate how they’ve applied new knowledge or skills in their work. 

How to assess a candidate’s UX research skills

For well-rounded and objective insights, the most effective way to evaluate a candidate’s UX research skills is to adopt a multi-measure approach, combining interviews with online testing. 

TestGorilla offers 300-plus pre-employment tests that help to verify candidates’ role-specific skills and competencies.

• Job-specific skills tests, such as the UX/UI Design or DevOps tests assess candidates’ technical expertise. 

• Personality assessments, such as the DISC, Enneagram, or Big Five (Ocean) tests determine core traits and motivations.

• Cognitive ability tests, such as the Critical Thinking and Problem Solving tests evaluate key traits of the UX research role. 

• Verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and reading comprehension assessments examine if candidates have the aptitude to succeed in the role. 

• Motivation and Culture-Add tests determine how a candidate will mesh with the company’s culture and working practices.

Consider rolling out these tests to screen and evaluate your UX research applicants. Additionally, TestGorilla’s one-way video interview feature enables hiring teams to dive deeper into candidates' skills and experiences. Structured interviews with set questions promote impartiality and improve screening efficiency. 

Hiring the best UX research candidates with TestGorilla

Hiring an inexperienced candidate who lacks the necessary skills for the job can be detrimental to your product and user experience, damaging your company’s reputation, and negatively impacting sales.  

By taking a multi-measure approach to hiring, you can thoroughly assess your UX research candidates. TestGorilla’s extensive library offers role-specific skills tests, personality tests, situational judgment tests, and more. This way, you can screen candidates for the required key skills and traits before putting them through the interview process. 

To get started, sign up for TestGorilla’s Free plan, take a product tour, or schedule a free 30-minute live demo today.