Which method is most effective in gathering accurate requirements during the requirements phase?

Shadowing prospective users is the most effective method in gathering accurate requirements during the requirements phase because it allows analysts to observe users in their actual work environment. This approach provides valuable insights into users' daily tasks, workflows, and challenges that they may not articulate in a traditional interview setting.

By observing users in real-time, analysts can identify gaps in processes, discover unexpressed needs, and understand the context in which users operate. This immersive technique captures the nuances of user behavior and interactions with existing systems, leading to a deeper understanding of what the users truly require.

In contrast, asking users to answer short questions or describe their duties in detail may yield limited responses, as users might not recall every aspect of their work or might focus on what they think the analyst wants to hear. Forming a hypothesis and performing experiments could be beneficial for testing ideas but lacks the direct feedback and engagement with users that shadowing provides. Thus, shadowing emerges as the most comprehensive method for gathering accurate requirements.