How Well Do Our Words Reflect Our Inside World? A psychological perspective on the limits of self-report, introspection, and understanding the human mind

Send us Fan MailHow much can you trust what users tell you?In this solo episode, we dive into one of the most slippery yet essential tools in UX research: self-reporting. From interviews to surveys, self-reports are everywhere—but they come with hidden psychological traps.We explore:Why self-reported data can be both useful and misleadingThe psychological reasons people often misrepresent their own behaviorWhen to trust what users say—and when to dig deeperThe subtle difference between described and observed behaviorIf you’ve ever relied on user quotes to justify a design decision—or been burned by data that didn’t translate to real-world outcomes—this episode will give you a sharper lens for interpreting what users say versus what they do.Tune in to sharpen your research instincts and make your design decisions more psychologically grounded.If this show has been useful or thought-provoking for you, please do us a favor and help other people discover the show by leaving a rating and review on your favorite podcast player.To leave a review on Apple Podcasts: search for The Design Psychologist, tap the show, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and hit “Write a Review.”