User Interview Template: Guide + Moderator Script

User interviews reveal motivations, needs, and language. This template helps you plan, run, and summarize interviews with less overhead.

What you'll get:

A copy/paste user interview template
A moderator guide script
A note-taking template

Use the sections below as building blocks; keep what you need and delete the rest.

To recruit the right participants, use the user research screener template.

References for this guide are listed at the end.

What is a user interview template?

A user interview template is a structured guide for planning and running interviews. It helps you define questions, capture answers, and keep sessions consistent across participants.

When to use user interviews

User interviews are a qualitative method used to learn about users' experiences, needs, and pain points. They are often used early in discovery or when you need deeper context.

What to include in a user interview template

Most interview guides include:

Research goals and questions
An interview guide with open-ended prompts
A warm-up section to build rapport
Follow-up probes
A note-taking format

User Interviews highlights a moderator guide and note-taking template as core assets. Xtensio recommends a simple structure: introduction, warm-up, main body, and room for feedback.

User interview template (copy/paste)

1. Research goals

What do we need to learn?
What decisions will this interview inform?
What questions must be answered?

2. Participant profile

Target users:
Key behaviors:
Inclusion criteria:
Exclusion criteria:

3. Session logistics

Session length:
Moderator:
Note taker:
Recording:
Incentive:

4. Interview guide

Intro (2-5 min)

Thank participant and explain purpose
Explain how the data will be used
Ask for consent to record

Warm-up (5 min)

Tell me about your role and day-to-day work
Walk me through a typical [task]

Core questions (20-30 min)

What is the hardest part of [task]?
What tools do you use today?
Tell me about the last time you [task]

Follow-up probes

Tell me more about that
What happened next?
Why was that important?

Wrap-up (5 min)

Is there anything we did not cover?
Can we contact you for follow-up research?

Moderator guide script (example)

Use this script at the start of the session.

Opening

Thanks for joining today. We are doing research to understand your experience with [topic]. There are no right or wrong answers. I may ask follow-up questions to learn more.

Consent

Is it ok if I record this session and take notes?

Warm-up

To start, can you tell me about your role and how you typically handle [task]?

Note-taking template (copy/paste)

Section	Question	Key quotes	Observations	Tags	Follow-ups
Warm-up	Role and context
Core	Last time you [task]
Core	Pain points
Wrap-up	Anything else

User interview checklist

[ ] Research goals are specific and actionable
[ ] Open-ended questions are prepared
[ ] Follow-up probes are ready
[ ] Warm-up questions are included
[ ] A note-taking format is set

Common mistakes to avoid

Leading questions that bias answers
Overloading the guide with too many questions
Skipping follow-up probes

FAQ

How long should a user interview be?

User Interviews notes that 30 minutes is common, and Miro recommends keeping interviews under an hour.

Should you use an interview guide?

Nielsen Norman Group recommends preparing an interview guide with open-ended questions and using it flexibly.

Should you record and take notes?

User Interviews recommends a note taker so the moderator can focus on the participant.

References

Related resources

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