When I was building The Reunite Project’s intake system, I asked formerly incarcerated women what frustrated them most about traditional aid forms. They said they felt judged by the wording. Based on that, I re-wrote the language to be supportive and simplified the process to one page. The feedback helped me reshape the tone of our entire service—from ‘qualifying people’ to ‘welcoming them.’ That single change increased the number of women willing to complete the form and opened the door to more honest conversations.”

The real motivation behind participating in user interviews depends on who’s being asked—but generally, people do it for one or more of these reasons: To be heard. Most people rarely get a direct line to decision-makers, so the idea that their feedback might shape a product or system is powerful. It’s a chance to have a tangible influence. Curiosity and impact. Some enjoy understanding how the sausage gets made—how their input translates into design choices or policy changes. It’s also gratifying to see improvements later and think, “I helped with that.” Altruism or shared mission. In nonprofit, community, or advocacy settings, participants often engage because they care about the mission and want to ensure it truly reflects lived experiences. Incentives. Let’s be honest—sometimes it’s the gift card, the cash, or the early access to something new that seals the deal. Validation. Being asked for opinions signals that someone values their perspective. That’s motivating in itself.

yes