The Power of Silence in Interviews

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Jay Parini: What would your UX superhero name be? He says he'd pick Captain Silen, a benevolent facilitator of the conversation just by his very presence. "We don't want to try to coerce a confession or induce a confession,"Parini says. The best interviewers avoid that moment of silence because it's a leap into the chasm and they start suggesting possible answers.

Steve Portigal challenges us to enjoy the silence when interviewing people. He teaches us the importance of rapport-building, and offers sage advice on how to do it. He shows us how sticking with an interview even when it’s not going well can sometimes bring forth the best data. He also reveals how a little empathy can go a long way in field research.

Secret Identity (8:08)
Origin Story (12:19)
What drives your curiosity? (24:53)
Roberta 'call me Bert's war story (29:28)
What's Ethnography (the "E-word") (38:32)
Rapport-building tips (46:51)
Brian's war story (55:21)
UX Superhero Name (66:28)
Habit of Success (75:06)
Steve's Corset War Story (78:39)
Best Advice (84:53)
Contact Info (88:33)

Check out the detailed show notes and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/049

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