10 Best User Research Questions to Ask at an Interview

User research is the foundation of creating products people truly love, and at the heart of that process is asking the right questions.

However, not all questions are created equal. Ask vague questions, and you’ll get vague answers. Ask the right ones, and you’ll get great information that’ll lead to better products and stronger user relationships.

In this post, we’ll walk you through 10 essential user research questions to help you understand your users at a meaningful level and ultimately design with purpose. 

Whether you’re developing a new product or refining an existing one, these questions will help you align your design or product with what truly matters to your users — and avoid costly missteps along the way.

1. "What are your main goals when using this product?"

Understanding a user’s goals helps you align your product’s features and functionality with their priorities. 

This question uncovers what users aim to achieve, giving you insight into how well your product supports those objectives — and where there may be gaps.

By focusing on these pain points, you ensure that your product addresses the right problems — those that matter most to users.

2. "What features do you find most valuable?"

It’s easy to zero in on what’s not working, but it’s equally important to know what users appreciate about their current tools or workflows. Preserving these positive aspects helps you maintain continuity and avoid unnecessary changes that could alienate users.

Knowing which features users rely on the most helps you prioritize what to maintain, refine, or promote. 

It ensures you’re doubling down on the elements that deliver value, while also identifying areas you can enhance for better engagement.

3. "Can you describe a recent experience where you encountered difficulties using this product?"

Asking users to describe specific moments gives you real-world context that goes beyond theoretical responses. These stories provide insight into how users respond to challenges, which tools they rely on, and what workarounds they create to solve problems.

Concrete examples are invaluable — they show how your product can address actual user needs.

4. "What do you expect from a solution to this problem?"

User expectations offer a roadmap for success. This question ensures that your product aligns with what users truly need and want — before investing time and resources in development.

When you understand users' expectations, you can design features with purpose, creating solutions they’ll be excited to use.

5. "Would you recommend this product to others?"

This question is an excellent way to gauge user satisfaction. If users are willing to recommend your product, it’s a strong indicator that it meets their expectations. If not, their hesitation often points to areas that need improvement.

6. "How do you typically use other tools like this?"

This question helps you identify patterns in user behavior and spot similarities across tools. When you align your product with these existing workflows, you reduce friction and make adoption smoother.

Designing with familiar experiences in mind also means less onboarding is required, which encourages users to engage with your product right away.

7. "What influences how often you use this product or service?"

This neutral phrasing avoids the assumption that something is preventing users from engaging and opens the door for both positive and negative responses. 

It allows you to explore factors like convenience, value, or competing solutions.

8. "If you could change one thing about this experience, what would it be?"

Encouraging users to imagine improvements helps uncover aspirational ideas and unmet needs. Even small tweaks inspired by user feedback can result in a significant boost in satisfaction.

Not all suggestions may be feasible, but they often reveal deeper frustrations or desires worth addressing.

9. "What tasks do you complete most often with this type of product?"

Understanding the core tasks users rely on helps you prioritize the features that matter most. Designing with these frequent actions in mind ensures your product delivers value where users need it most.

10. "Is there anything else you'd like to share?"

Open-ended questions give users the opportunity to express thoughts or insights you might not have considered. Sometimes, the most valuable feedback comes from these unstructured moments.

This question also shows users that you value their input, building trust and encouraging more candid responses in future interactions.

Types of user research questions

The questions you ask will depend on where you are in the product development process. 

Below are three common types of user research questions, with examples and when to use them.

1. Problem-focused questions

These questions help uncover pain points and frustrations. They’re critical during early product discovery and feature development to ensure you're solving the right problems.

Examples:

• "What challenges do you face when completing [task]?"

• "What problems do you encounter with [current tool]?"

• "What’s the most frustrating part of trying to solve [problem]?"

2. User-centered questions

These questions explore user behavior and motivations, helping you understand who your users are and how they engage with products.

Examples:

• "How do you typically complete [task]?"

• "How often do you use [tool] for this task?"

• "What would make you more likely to use this product regularly?"

3. Product experience questions

These questions focus on usability, satisfaction, and design. They help you evaluate how users interact with your product and identify areas for improvement.

Examples:

• "What did you think about the product’s navigation?"

• "What’s one thing we could change to improve your experience?"

• "How easy or difficult was it to complete [task] with the product?"

Best practices for creating effective user research questions

The way you frame questions is just as important as the questions themselves. 

Poorly worded questions can lead to biased or unhelpful responses, while thoughtful questions unlock the insights you need to build user-centric products. 

Here are some tips from us:

1. Ask open-ended questions to encourage deeper responses

Open-ended questions give participants room to open up and elaborate, which is exactly what you want. If you stick to yes/no questions, you’ll miss out on the rich details that can spark new ideas. 

For example, instead of asking, “Do you like the product?” (which leaves little room for insight), try asking, “What do you like or dislike about the product?” 

You’ll get more meaningful feedback that way and avoid surface-level answers.

2. Avoid leading questions to prevent bias

It’s easy to accidentally influence a user’s response with how you phrase your question. Leading questions — those that nudge people toward a particular answer — can skew your results. The goal is to get honest, unfiltered feedback. 

For instance, rather than asking, “Is the product easy to use?” (which suggests a positive answer), go with, “How would you describe your experience using the product?” Keeping things neutral helps users feel more comfortable sharing their real thoughts.

3. Use a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions

A good balance of quantitative and qualitative questions gives you the best of both worlds. 

Quantitative questions — like rating scales — give you numbers to measure and compare. 

Qualitative questions, on the other hand, let users explain why they feel a certain way, which can uncover insights the numbers alone might miss. When you combine both, you get insights that both measurable and actionable.

4. Align your questions with your research goals

Every phase of product development calls for a slightly different set of questions. If you’re in the product discovery stage, focus on problem-centered questions to understand what’s frustrating your users or what they’re missing. 

But if you’re further along and conducting usability tests, shift your attention to experience-focused questions that explore how users interact with the product and what might be getting in their way. Matching your questions to your research goals ensures you get the right insights at the right time.

Wrapping up

The right questions lead to the right insights. By using these top user research questions in your interviews, you’ll uncover your users’ frustrations, needs, and desires and get closer to providing the foundation for products that truly resonate with them.

And remember, research is only as good as the way you manage it. 

With UserBit, you can streamline your process from interviews to insights — helping you stay organized, aligned, and on track toward creating exceptional user experiences. 🎯