“Trust isn’t built with a questionnaire.”
It’s built in the first 3 minutes — with tone, eye contact, and empathy.
We often ask:
“Are you comfortable answering these questions?”
But comfort doesn’t come from a question.
It comes from being seen, not screened.
How do we ensure participation in user interviews?
Not by incentives alone.
But by making participants feel they matter beyond their data.
Sometimes that means:
🔹 Switching from formal to conversational tone
🔹 Adapting pace to their comfort
🔹 Letting silences breathe — instead of rushing to fill them
🔹 Saying, “It’s okay to skip this” — and meaning it
Once, a participant hesitated mid-answer.
We paused. Smiled. Asked, “Do you want to take a moment?”
She did.
And what she shared next changed the direction of our insights.
Same guide. Same questions.
But the human approach changed everything.
In research, we strive for truth.
But truth only shows up in safe spaces.
So the next time you’re conducting an interview…
📌 Remember: Participation isn’t just about showing up.
It’s about feeling free to open up.
Have you seen participation shift just by how you show up as a moderator?
We’d love to learn from your experience.
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