YOUR CUSTOMER DISCOVERY INTERVIEW TEMPLATE

Use one record per conversation. Replace the prompts with your situation, keep identifying details private, and preserve answers that challenge the idea.

1. RESEARCH DECISION
One assumption: ____. Decision this research should inform: ____. Evidence that would challenge the assumption: ____.

Notes:


2. PARTICIPANT AND CONTEXT
Private interview ID/date: ____. Role: ____. Recruitment source: ____. Qualifying recent event: ____. Notes/recording permissions: ____.

Notes:


3. CONVERSATION OUTLINE
Opening: ____. Recent-event question: ____. Steps and consequence: ____. Workaround: ____. Alternatives and prior changes: ____. Priorities and decision process: ____. Recap: ____.

Notes:


4. WHAT THE PARTICIPANT REPORTED
Event and trigger: ____. Steps: ____. Consequence: ____. Estimate and its basis: ____. What already works: ____.

Notes:


5. WHAT I OBSERVED
Artifact voluntarily shared: ____. What it actually shows: ____. What it does not show: ____. Record unavailable if nothing was observed.

Notes:


6. INTERPRETATION AND CONTRADICTIONS
My interpretation: ____. Evidence against it: ____. Other plausible explanation: ____. Still unknown: ____.

Notes:


7. NEXT DECISION
Comparable interviews reviewed: ____. Next question or test: ____. Why it matters: ____. Time/cost limit: ____. Any agreed follow-up: ____.

Notes:


Next action: Write one assumption and one question that could challenge it. Choose a suitable participant, then adapt the opening and recent-event prompts before inviting them.

Companion lesson: https://www.mentor-app.io/learn/customer-discovery-interview-questions/