# Audience Interview Guide

Plan and run structured conversations that uncover reader situations, questions, barriers, vocabulary, information habits, and desired outcomes.

## Usage note

Use this guide for voluntary research conversations, not covert data collection or a sales call disguised as an interview. Follow the applicable consent, recording, privacy, incentive, and retention requirements. Remove unnecessary personal details from shared notes and tell participants how their input will be used before asking questions.

## How to use this template

1. Define the content decision, target situation, recruitment criteria, exclusions, consent process, and note-taking roles.
2. Customize the core prompts around a recent event without adding leading product or message language.
3. Open with purpose and consent, then follow the participant’s sequence using neutral probes and clarification.
4. Separate observed or reported evidence from interpretation, and complete the post-interview summary immediately.
5. Compare several interviews before recommending content changes, recording contradictions, gaps, and confidence.

## Blank template

### Study and participant setup

- **Research decision:** [What content choice will this inform?]
- **Target situation:** [Recent task, question, or decision]
- **Recruitment criteria:** [Required experience]
- **Variation sought:** [Knowledge, access, outcome, language, or another factor]
- **Exclusions:** [Who should not be recruited and why?]
- **Interviewer:** [Name]
- **Note taker:** [Name or recording plan]
- **Consent and retention:** [What was explained and agreed?]
- **Participant code:** [Use a non-identifying label]

### Core interview prompts

- **Opening episode:** Tell me about the last time you [relevant task].
- **Trigger:** What was happening that made you look for information?
- **Starting point:** Where did you begin, and why there?
- **Language:** What words did you use or expect to see?
- **Sequence:** What did you do next?
- **Decision:** How did you choose among the options you found?
- **Barrier:** Where did you pause, leave, or seek help?
- **Trust:** What made information feel credible or doubtful?
- **Outcome:** What happened, and how did you know you were done?
- **Missing support:** What would have made that moment easier?

### Neutral probes and checks

- [ ] Ask “Can you walk me through that?” before proposing an explanation.
- [ ] Clarify whether a statement describes this event or a usual habit.
- [ ] Ask what evidence or cue influenced the decision.
- [ ] Explore failure and workarounds, not only successful completion.
- [ ] Avoid defending existing content or promising a product change.
- [ ] Confirm recording or artifact permission before collecting anything.

### Post-interview summary

- **Situation:** [Concise context]
- **Primary need:** [What progress was sought?]
- **Barrier:** [What prevented progress?]
- **Participant language:** [Permitted short phrases or close paraphrases]
- **Information source:** [Where they looked and why]
- **Outcome:** [Success, partial success, abandonment, or workaround]
- **Researcher interpretation:** [Clearly label inference]
- **Contradiction or surprise:** [What challenged the brief?]
- **Content implication:** [Possible change, not a final conclusion]
- **Follow-up question:** [What remains unknown?]