User Research Interview Guide Template
Generative user interview discussion guide: learning goals, timed session flow, open questions and probes, note-taking
Anleitung: Use it to prepare exploratory interviews before designing. Fill the learning goals first and map every question to one. The main pitfall is asking hypothetical questions about future behaviour instead of past experiences.
Vorschau
Research Interview Guide: [Study title]
A discussion guide for generative (exploratory) user interviews: the learning goals, the session flow, open questions with follow-up probes, and the note-taking set-up. It follows common user research practice. Replace every
[bracketed]value and every row marked Example. Worked examples use Quillmere Libraries, a fictional city library service, exploring how people choose what to read next.
Study summary
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Document ID | [RIG-001] |
| Version and date | [1.0], YYYY-MM-DD |
| Research plan | [design/ux-research-plan, document ID] |
| Interviewer and note-taker | [@interviewer], [@note-taker] |
| Session length | [Example: 45 minutes] |
| Participants | [Example: 10 adults who borrowed at least one book in the last 3 months] |
| Consent | [design/research-consent-form version 1.0 signed before the session] |
Learning goals
| ID | Learning goal |
|---|---|
| LG-1 (Example) | How people discover what to read next, and which sources they trust |
| LG-2 (Example) | What happens between deciding on a book and getting it in hand |
| LG-3 (Example) | Where the library fits, and where other options win |
Session flow and questions
| Time | Section | Main question | Probes | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 min | Welcome | Introduce, confirm consent and recording, explain there are no right answers | ||
| 5 to 10 min | Warm-up | "Tell me a little about what you like to read." | "When do you usually read?" | LG-1 |
| 10 to 20 min | Discovery | "Think about the last book you started. How did you come across it?" | "What made you pick that one?" "Who else was involved?" | LG-1 |
| 20 to 30 min | Getting the book | "Walk me through what you did from deciding to read it to having it in your hands." | "What was easy? What took longer than you expected?" "Show me, if you can." | LG-2 |
| 30 to 38 min | Alternatives | "When do you use the library, and when do you buy or borrow elsewhere?" | "Tell me about a time the library was not the right choice." | LG-3 |
| 38 to 43 min | Reflection | "If you could change one thing about how you find and get books, what would it be?" | "Why that?" | All |
| 43 to 45 min | Close | "Is there anything I should have asked?" Thank, explain the gift and how to withdraw |
Neutral follow-ups to use anywhere: "Tell me more about that." "What happened next?" "Why was that important?" "Can you give me an example?" Stay silent for a few seconds after an answer; people often add the most useful detail then.
Questions to avoid: leading ("Wouldn't it be easier if..."), double ("How do you find and reserve books?"), and hypothetical ("Would you pay for...").
Note-taking
| Time | Participant said or did | Learning goal | Interpretation (marked) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:30 (Example) | P03: "I screenshot books people post and forget about them." | LG-1 | Interpretation: discovery and memory are separate steps |
After each session, write the three strongest observations within one hour. Synthesise across sessions with design/research-synthesis.
Standard and licence note
Based on common user research interviewing practice; no standard governs discussion guides. Related templates: design/ux-research-plan, design/research-consent-form, design/research-synthesis, requirements/stakeholder-interview-guide, product/persona. The text is original. Template licence: MIT.
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