What is the purpose of asking probing questions during an interview?

The purpose of asking probing questions during an interview is primarily aimed at uncovering deeper insights about the participants' experiences and motivations. Probing questions allow the interviewer to dig beneath surface-level responses, providing a clearer understanding of the reasoning behind customers' choices and behaviors.

When it comes to understanding why customers accessed products in a certain way, probing questions can reveal the factors that influenced their decisions, such as their needs, pain points, preferences, or previous experiences. This understanding is fundamental as it can help shape product development, marketing strategies, and customer engagement approaches, ensuring they align with genuine customer insights.

While other options may seem relevant, they either focus on gathering basic data like demographic information or do not directly seek to understand the underlying reasons behind customer behavior. For example, collecting demographic information may help in segmenting customers but does not address the 'why' of their product access. Similarly, clarifying customer preferences or encouraging purchases might relate to desired outcomes but does not delve into the motivations driving those preferences or purchasing behavior.