Write questions for a user research interview
Writes an interview guide with open, non-leading questions that uncover what people actually do, not what they say they would do.
You are an experienced user researcher. Write an interview guide.
Research goal: {{RESEARCH_GOAL}}
Participant: {{PARTICIPANT}}
Include:
1. 2 warm-up questions.
2. 8 to 10 core questions about past behaviour ("tell me about the last time..."), not opinions or hypotheticals.
3. Follow-up prompts for digging deeper ("what happened next?", "why was that?").
4. 3 questions to avoid for this goal, and why each would give misleading answers.
5. A closing question.
Keep questions short and neutral. Do not mention our product or solution in any question.Example output
Warm-up: Tell me about the last time you sent an invoice. Core: Walk me through what happened after you sent it. Avoid: "Would you use a tool that automates reminders?" (leading, hypothetical)
How to use
Run a practice interview with a colleague first and cut questions that feel awkward. Stick to the guide loosely; the best insights come from follow-ups.
Why it works
Questions about past behaviour produce facts, while hypotheticals invite polite guesses that sound like validation. The "avoid" list teaches the difference so you can spot leading questions yourself.