Inviting Depth: How to Conduct Richer, More Revealing Research Interviews Paperback – February 6, 2026

Seeing people deeply is essential for creating emotionally resonant products and services. But reaching that depth means moving beyond conventional interviewing practices.In Inviting Depth, expert researchers Brandon Berry and Tom Williams take readers on a revealing exploration of what helps participants open up and share rich details about their lives. They show that the key to deeper interviews isn’t simply asking better questions—it’s creating experiences that reflect how people truly want to feel as participants: prepared, appreciated, engaged, and, above all, empowered to speak in their own authentic voice.More than a traditional research guide, Inviting Depth reimagines what interviewing asks of researchers. It introduces a participant-centered framework for conducting research in the AI era, urging researchers to double down on what humans do best: empathy, emotional attunement, and genuine connection. Drawing on years of fieldwork and a wide range of real-world examples, it presents 28 field-tested techniques that help participants feel at ease and share more deeply.What You’ll LearnWhile the importance of building rapport during interviews is widely understood, this book reframes it as much more than brief moments of friendliness. Creating authentic rapport requires deliberately supporting a broader range of experiences across the participant’s entire research journey.Inviting Depth will show you how to:Start building a connection with participants through the screener and an introductory email even before interviews beginDesign a pre-session activity that prepares them to share in depthCreate a glanceable and flexible discussion guide to support your connection with participants, while offering enough variety in activities to keep them engagedIdentify the participant’s starting emotions, and adjust your approach to address their needsBuild early momentum through small wins and strategically chosen topicsEncourage deeper participant introspection through reflecting, pacing, and giving spaceInvite vulnerability from participants in a way that feels warm and caringBring out rich and layered detail in their stories without exhausting participantsHelp participants recall experiences that are difficult to rememberCreate a post-interview questionnaire that helps you improve future participant experiences and grow as a researcherAnd much more…Who This Book Is ForInviting Depth is a field manual for those who want to hone their craft, whether you’re relatively new to interviewing or have years of practice and want to go further.It will be especially useful for:UX and design researchers seeking more meaningful conversationsEthnographers looking to grow in their practiceQuantitative researchers who want to improve their interviewing skillsProduct teams, including product managers, who want to build more inclusive, emotionally resonant solutionsAnyone whose work involves listening—really listening—to understand people more deeply Read more