Interview templates and discussion guides

There are 3 main types of interviews structured, semi-structured, and unstructed. Only the structured type follow a strict script. For the rest, a good interview does not need to follow a strict script, but it does need a clear flow that an interview guide can help with.

The interview guide (or the template) gives moderators a flexible path to follow, so each session stays focused while still leaving room for real conversation, follow-up questions, and unexpected details.

The goal is not to make every interview sound the same. The goal is to make sure your team is asking the right kinds of questions, covering the right topics, and collecting insights that can be compared across sessions.

What is an interview discussion guide?

A discussion guide is a structured outline that can be used for many kinds of live research conversation, in our case for unstructured or semi-structured user interviews.

It usually include the topics the moderator needs to cover, example questions, follow-up prompts, and notes on how to introduce or wrap up the session. It can also the goal of the study depending on the research.

Unlike a script, a discussion guide does not need to be read word for word. It is there to keep the conversation on track, especially when the participant says something interesting and the moderator needs to decide whether to follow that thread or move on.

What to include in an interview template

A practical interview template should help your team prepare, run, and review the session.

It can include:

• Research goal

• Session length

• Intro script

• Consent or recording note

• Warm-up questions

• Main topics or tasks

• Follow-up prompts

• Wrap-up questions

• Notes section

• Post-session summary fields

Not every study needs a long template. A simple discovery interview may only need a few core sections. A concept test, market research session, or moderated product feedback study may need more structure. It will be beneficial as long as the template should match the purpose of the interview.

Start with the goal, not the questions

It is tempting to begin by writing a long list of questions. But a stronger template starts with the research goal. What are you trying to understand? What decision will this research support? What do you need to learn from the participants?

Once the goal is clear, the template becomes easier to build.

Use sections to create a natural flow

A good live conversation usually moves from general to specific.

You can structure the guide like this:

1. Intro
   Explain the session, recording, and what the participant can expect.

2. Warm-up
   Ask about the participant’s context, role, habits, or recent experience.

3. Main topic
   Explore the core research questions, concept, workflow, product experience, or customer need.

4. Follow-ups
   Leave prompts for clarifying vague answers or exploring important moments.

5. Wrap-up
   Give the participant space to add anything you did not ask.

This kind of structure keeps the session organized without making the conversation feel robotic.

Leave room for follow-up questions

A common mistake is making the guide too full.

If every minute is packed with required questions, the moderator has no room to listen properly. The best parts of a live interview often come from a follow-up question that was not written in advance.

Your template should include prompts like:

• Can you tell me more about that?

• What made you think that?

• Can you give me an example?

• What were you expecting instead?

• How does that usually work for you?

These prompts remind the moderator to explore answers more deeply without derailing the session.

Continue exploring the Interviews Library

Once your template is ready, the next step is making sure the right people enter the conversation.

Back to the main guide: Useberry Interviews: A Complete Guide to Planning, Running, and Analyzing Better Research Conversations