{"id":7585,"date":"2026-11-12T13:02:18","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T13:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/?p=7585"},"modified":"2026-11-12T13:02:20","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T13:02:20","slug":"user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/","title":{"rendered":"User Interview Script Template: Free Template and How to Use It"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#What_Is_a_User_Interview_Script\" >What Is a User Interview Script?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Why_a_Script_Matters\" >Why a Script Matters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#When_to_Use_User_Interviews\" >When to Use User Interviews<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Before_You_Write_the_Script_Planning_Checklist\" >Before You Write the Script: Planning Checklist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Free_User_Interview_Script_Template\" >Free User Interview Script Template<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Section_1_Introduction_3_to_5_minutes\" >Section 1: Introduction (3 to 5 minutes)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Section_2_Warm-Up_Questions_5_minutes\" >Section 2: Warm-Up Questions (5 minutes)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Section_3_Core_Topic_Questions_20_to_30_minutes\" >Section 3: Core Topic Questions (20 to 30 minutes)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Section_4_Probing_Questions\" >Section 4: Probing Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Section_5_Wrap-Up_5_minutes\" >Section 5: Wrap-Up (5 minutes)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Types_of_Interview_Questions\" >Types of Interview Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Good_vs_Poor_Interview_Questions\" >Good vs. Poor Interview Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#How_to_Run_a_Great_Interview\" >How to Run a Great Interview<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Before_the_Interview\" >Before the Interview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#During_the_Interview\" >During the Interview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#After_the_Interview\" >After the Interview<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Simple_Note-Taking_Template\" >Simple Note-Taking Template<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Common_Interview_Mistakes\" >Common Interview Mistakes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Turn_Interviews_into_Impact\" >Turn Interviews into Impact<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#How_to_Analyze_Interview_Data\" >How to Analyze Interview Data<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#How_long_should_a_user_interview_be\" >How long should a user interview be?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#How_many_user_interviews_do_I_need\" >How many user interviews do I need?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Should_I_send_the_questions_in_advance\" >Should I send the questions in advance?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Should_I_record_user_interviews\" >Should I record user interviews?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#What_is_the_difference_between_a_user_interview_and_a_usability_test\" >What is the difference between a user interview and a usability test?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Analytics can tell you what users do, but only a conversation can tell you why. User interviews uncover motivations, habits, and frustrations that no dashboard shows. Yet a poorly planned interview can waste an hour on leading questions, vague answers, and opinions about features nobody has used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide gives you a <strong>free user interview script template<\/strong>, sample questions, and moderation tips so every conversation produces insights your team can act on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_User_Interview_Script\"><\/span><strong>What Is a User Interview Script?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A user interview script, also called a discussion guide, is a flexible outline of topics and questions for a research conversation. It isn\u2019t a rigid survey. It helps you cover the important areas, stay neutral, and still follow interesting threads when they appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_a_Script_Matters\"><\/span><strong>Why a Script Matters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A good script helps you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stay focused<\/strong> on your research goals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Avoid leading questions<\/strong> that bias answers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep sessions consistent<\/strong> across participants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manage time<\/strong> so key topics aren\u2019t missed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make analysis easier<\/strong> by collecting comparable data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Use_User_Interviews\"><\/span><strong>When to Use User Interviews<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interviews work best when you need depth and context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Early discovery<\/strong>, to understand needs and problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Workflow research<\/strong>, to see how people work today<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Concept validation<\/strong>, before investing in design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Persona and journey map creation<\/strong>, to ground them in real stories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Post-launch research<\/strong>, to understand why metrics changed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Before_You_Write_the_Script_Planning_Checklist\"><\/span><strong>Before You Write the Script: Planning Checklist<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Research goals:<\/strong> what decisions will this research inform?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Participants:<\/strong> who should you talk to, and how will you recruit them?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Number of interviews:<\/strong> many studies start with five to eight per user segment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Format and length:<\/strong> in person or remote, usually 30 to 60 minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consent and recording:<\/strong> how will you store and protect data?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Team roles:<\/strong> who interviews, and who takes notes?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_User_Interview_Script_Template\"><\/span><strong>Free User Interview Script Template<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Section_1_Introduction_3_to_5_minutes\"><\/span><strong>Section 1: Introduction (3 to 5 minutes)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThanks for making time today. I\u2019m [Name] from [Team]. I\u2019d like to learn about how you [topic]. This isn\u2019t a test, and there are no right or wrong answers. I\u2019m interested in your honest experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With your permission, I\u2019ll record the session for note-taking only. Your answers will stay confidential, and you can skip any question or stop at any time. Is that okay?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Section_2_Warm-Up_Questions_5_minutes\"><\/span><strong>Section 2: Warm-Up Questions (5 minutes)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cTell me a bit about yourself and what you do.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cWhat does a typical week look like for you?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cHow does [topic] fit into your routine?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Warm-up questions relax the participant and give you context for everything that follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Section_3_Core_Topic_Questions_20_to_30_minutes\"><\/span><strong>Section 3: Core Topic Questions (20 to 30 minutes)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Organize questions by theme and adapt them to your study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Theme<\/th><th>Sample Questions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Current behavior<\/strong><\/td><td>\u201cWalk me through the last time you [activity].\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Goals<\/strong><\/td><td>\u201cWhat were you trying to achieve?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Tools and workarounds<\/strong><\/td><td>\u201cWhat did you use? How well did it work?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pain points<\/strong><\/td><td>\u201cWhat was frustrating or difficult about that?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Decision-making<\/strong><\/td><td>\u201cHow did you choose between your options?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Impact<\/strong><\/td><td>\u201cWhat happens when this goes wrong?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ideal outcome<\/strong><\/td><td>\u201cIf you could change one thing, what would it be?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Section_4_Probing_Questions\"><\/span><strong>Section 4: Probing Questions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use probes to go deeper without leading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cCan you tell me more about that?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cWhy was that important to you?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cWhat happened next?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cCan you give me an example?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cHow did that make you feel?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Section_5_Wrap-Up_5_minutes\"><\/span><strong>Section 5: Wrap-Up (5 minutes)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cIs there anything we haven\u2019t covered that you think is important?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cWho else should I talk to about this?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cThank you. Your insights are very helpful.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_Interview_Questions\"><\/span><strong>Types of Interview Questions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Question Type<\/th><th>Purpose<\/th><th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Open-ended<\/strong><\/td><td>Invite detailed stories<\/td><td>\u201cTell me about your last booking.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Behavioral<\/strong><\/td><td>Reveal what people actually did<\/td><td>\u201cWhat did you do first?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Clarifying<\/strong><\/td><td>Confirm understanding<\/td><td>\u201cWhen you say \u2018slow,\u2019 what do you mean?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Emotional<\/strong><\/td><td>Surface feelings and motivation<\/td><td>\u201cHow did you feel at that point?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Closing<\/strong><\/td><td>Catch missing topics<\/td><td>\u201cWhat should I have asked?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Good_vs_Poor_Interview_Questions\"><\/span><strong>Good vs. Poor Interview Questions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Poor Question<\/th><th>Better Question<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u201cWould you use a feature like this?\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cTell me about the last time you needed to do this.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cDo you like our app?\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cHow do you currently handle this task?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cDon\u2019t you think this is confusing?\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cWhat was your experience with this step?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cHow often do you do X?\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cWalk me through your most recent time doing X.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions about <strong>past behavior<\/strong> reveal far more than questions about <strong>future intentions<\/strong>, because people are poor predictors of what they will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Run_a_Great_Interview\"><\/span><strong>How to Run a Great Interview<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Before_the_Interview\"><\/span><strong>Before the Interview<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pilot your script<\/strong> with a colleague to catch unclear questions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Test your recording setup<\/strong> and backup tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Confirm the time, link, and consent<\/strong> with the participant<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Review your research goals<\/strong> one more time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"During_the_Interview\"><\/span><strong>During the Interview<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Listen more than you talk.<\/strong> Aim for the participant speaking most of the time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Embrace silence.<\/strong> Pauses often lead to the most honest answers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Follow interesting threads<\/strong>, even if they\u2019re off-script.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Avoid pitching or defending<\/strong> your product.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Note emotions and body language<\/strong>, not only words.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"After_the_Interview\"><\/span><strong>After the Interview<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Write a quick summary<\/strong> within 24 hours while memory is fresh<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tag quotes and themes<\/strong> in your notes or repository<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compare across participants<\/strong> to find patterns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Share clear insights<\/strong>, not raw transcripts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Simple_Note-Taking_Template\"><\/span><strong>Simple Note-Taking Template<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Field<\/th><th>Your Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Participant ID and segment<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Key stories<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pain points<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Goals and motivations<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Workarounds and tools<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Memorable quotes<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Surprises<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Follow-up questions<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Interview_Mistakes\"><\/span><strong>Common Interview Mistakes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Asking leading or hypothetical questions<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interviewing the wrong audience<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Talking too much<\/strong> and filling every silence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Taking answers at face value<\/strong> without asking for examples<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Treating one interview as proof<\/strong> of a trend<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skipping analysis<\/strong>, leaving notes unused<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Forgetting consent<\/strong> and privacy basics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Turn_Interviews_into_Impact\"><\/span><strong>Turn Interviews into Impact<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interviews are most valuable when they change decisions. Experienced <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/services\/ux-research\">UX research services<\/a><\/strong> teams can help with recruiting, moderation, and analysis, so your insights are credible and ready to use. Once findings are in hand, a facilitated <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/design-thinking-workshops\">design thinking workshop<\/a><\/strong> helps stakeholders turn insights into shared priorities and concrete ideas. And when research points to a redesign, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/services\/ui-ux-design-services\">UI\/UX design services<\/a><\/strong> can translate what you learned into tested, user-centered interfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Analyze_Interview_Data\"><\/span><strong>How to Analyze Interview Data<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Transcribe or summarize<\/strong> each session<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Highlight key quotes<\/strong> and observations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Group similar notes<\/strong> into themes using affinity mapping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Count patterns<\/strong> across participants, such as how many mentioned the same pain point<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Write insight statements<\/strong> in this format: \u201c[User] needs [need] because [reason]\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prioritize<\/strong> by frequency, severity, and business impact<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_should_a_user_interview_be\"><\/span><strong>How long should a user interview be?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Usually 30 to 60 minutes. Longer sessions risk fatigue and shallow answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_user_interviews_do_I_need\"><\/span><strong>How many user interviews do I need?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many studies start with five to eight interviews per user segment, then continue until new interviews stop revealing new patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_send_the_questions_in_advance\"><\/span><strong>Should I send the questions in advance?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share the topic and expected length, but not the detailed questions, so answers stay natural and unrehearsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_record_user_interviews\"><\/span><strong>Should I record user interviews?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, with clear consent. Recordings improve accuracy and let you focus on the conversation instead of typing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_difference_between_a_user_interview_and_a_usability_test\"><\/span><strong>What is the difference between a user interview and a usability test?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An interview explores experiences, needs, and motivations through conversation. A usability test observes people completing tasks with a product to find usability problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A good interview script gives you structure without limiting curiosity. Use the template, ask about real past behavior, stay neutral, and analyze findings quickly. Small, thoughtful conversations often reveal the insights that change a product\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Analytics can tell you what users do, but only a conversation can tell you why. User interviews uncover motivations, habits, and frustrations that no dashboard shows. Yet a poorly planned interview can waste an hour on leading questions, vague answers, and opinions about features nobody has used. This guide gives you a free user interview&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.originux.com\/resources\/blog\/user-interview-script-template-free-template-and-how-to-use-it\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">User Interview Script Template: Free Template and How to Use It<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>User Interview Script Template: Free Template and How to Use It<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Free user interview script template with intro, warm-up, core questions, probes, and wrap-up. 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