user interview script template
What is a user interview script?
A user interview script is a structured guide that helps researchers conduct consistent, effective user interviews by outlining questions to ask, conversation flows to follow, and key topics to cover. The script ensures you gather the insights you need while maintaining a natural conversational tone that puts participants at ease.
Think of it as your interview roadmap, it keeps you on track without making the conversation feel robotic or overly formal. A well-crafted script balances preparation with flexibility, allowing you to probe deeper into unexpected insights while ensuring you cover all essential topics across every participant.
Why use a user interview script template?
Ask better questions consistently
Without a script, interview quality varies wildly based on how you're feeling that day or what the previous participant said. A script ensures every participant gets thoughtful, well-crafted questions that actually uncover insights rather than surface-level answers.
Never forget critical topics
In the flow of conversation, it's surprisingly easy to skip important question areas or forget to probe deeper on interesting responses. Your script acts as a safety net, ensuring you cover everything needed to answer your research questions.
Reduce interviewer bias
Scripts help you ask open-ended questions neutrally rather than leading participants toward answers you want to hear. When you've pre-written questions, you're less likely to accidentally phrase things in ways that influence responses.
Onboard new researchers faster
When multiple team members conduct interviews, standardized scripts ensure consistency across sessions. New interviewers can learn your research methodology quickly by following proven scripts rather than figuring things out from scratch.
Focus on listening, not remembering
With your script handling what to ask next, you can dedicate full attention to truly listening to participants, observing their reactions, and catching the subtle details that reveal deeper insights.
Make interviews feel natural despite structure
Good scripts are written conversationally, so even when you're following them closely, the interview feels like a genuine conversation rather than an interrogation. Participants open up more when they're comfortable.
How to use this template
1. Choose the right script for your research goal (10 minutes)
Start by clarifying what you need to learn. Are you exploring problems (discovery)? Testing solutions (validation)? Understanding motivations (JTBD)? Select the script that matches your research objective.
2. Customize questions for your context (30 minutes)
Adapt the template questions to your specific product, industry, and users. Replace generic placeholders with your actual features, workflows, and terminology. Add any domain-specific questions you need.
3. Organize your question flow (15 minutes)
Arrange questions in a logical order that feels conversational. Start broad and warm, get specific in the middle, and end with open-ended wrap-ups. Aim for 45-60 minute total duration.
4. Prepare your probes (20 minutes)
Review the probing question library and note which follow-ups you'll likely need based on your topics. Having these ready means you won't miss opportunities to dig deeper when participants share something interesting.
5. Practice with a colleague (30 minutes)
Run through the script with a team member playing the participant. This reveals confusing questions, awkward transitions, and timing issues. Refine before real interviews.
6. Print or display for easy reference
Have your script readily accessible during interviews, printed with space for notes or on a second screen. You shouldn't be reading it word-for-word, but you need it visible to stay on track.
7. Follow loosely, not rigidly
Use your script as a guide while remaining flexible. If a participant shares something fascinating that wasn't in your plan, pursue it. The best insights often come from unexpected conversations.
8. Take notes on the script itself (during interviews)
Jot quick notes directly on your script about which questions worked well, which confused people, and what new probes you discovered. Update the script between sessions.
What makes this template different?
Organized by research stage, not just topic
Most templates provide generic question lists. This template gives you complete scripts matched to specific research objectives, discovery, validation, JTBD, problem-solution, so you start with the right approach for your goal.
Includes natural conversation bridges
Beyond just questions, you'll find suggested transitions between topics, rapport-building language, and ways to make interviews feel conversational even when following structure. This matters because comfortable participants share more.
Probing question library by situation
Rather than generic "tell me more," you get specific follow-up questions organized by what you observe: when participants hesitate, when they mention workarounds, when they express frustration, when they describe solutions they've cobbled together.
Based on proven frameworks
The scripts incorporate established research methodologies like Jobs-to-be-Done, Customer Development, and UX research best practices from Nielsen Norman Group, enabling you to conduct professional-quality interviews immediately.
Covers difficult interview moments
You'll find guidance for handling common challenges: participants who give very brief answers, conversations that drift off-topic, awkward silences, participants who want to please you, and technical difficulties during remote sessions.
Real examples throughout
Every section includes concrete examples showing good vs. poor question phrasing, effective vs. ineffective probes, and how to adapt scripts for different participant types or industries.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a user interview script be?
For a 60-minute interview, your script might be 4-6 pages: introduction (0.5 pages), main questions organized by topic (3-4 pages), wrap-up (0.5 pages), and probes/notes (1 page). The key is having enough structure to stay on track without so much that you're constantly reading.
Should I read my script word-for-word during interviews?
No. Your script is a guide, not a teleprompter. Internalize the questions so you can ask them conversationally and naturally. Glance at your script to remember what's next, but maintain eye contact and connection with your participant.
How many questions should I include?
For a 60-minute interview, 8-12 main questions plus follow-up probes is typical. Each main question might take 5-7 minutes including discussion and probes. Remember, quality of conversation matters more than quantity of questions covered.
What if I don't finish all my questions?
That's often a good sign, it means you had a rich conversation with lots of depth. Prioritize your most important questions first, and treat later questions as "nice to have." Depth beats breadth in qualitative research.
Can I modify the script between participants?
Minor wording clarifications are fine, but avoid changing core questions mid-study. Consistency lets you compare responses. If you discover a major script problem after the first interview, you might revise for remaining sessions and note the change.
How do I handle participants who give very brief answers?
Use probes: "Tell me more about that," "Walk me through what you were thinking," "Why is that important to you?" Some people need more prompting. If they remain brief across topics, they might not be a great interview participant, it happens.
What about remote vs. in-person interviews?
The script stays largely the same, but remote interviews need extra rapport-building at the start, technical check-ins ("Can you still hear me?"), and possibly shorter duration (45 minutes vs. 60) since video calls are more tiring.
Should different interviewers use the same script?
Yes, for consistency. Everyone should follow the same core script, though experienced interviewers will develop their own natural delivery style. The questions and topics should remain consistent across the research study.
Ready to conduct better user interviews?
Download the template and start having conversations that uncover real insights.
