Here's an example of a guide that we used for a research project we sponsored and published. Note that we organized these questions into several sections based around different question themes.
For some of these questions, we include instructions within brackets [...] - this is another way of providing instructions to the AI moderator.
Section 1: Background
Conversational Question: To get started, can you please share your first name, age and where you live?
Section 2: Reflections on previous interviews
Conversational Question: Tell me about the last qualitative interview you participated in. What was the experience like?
Conversational Question: What about that interview did you enjoy? [follow up to understand what made them feel comfortable sharing, accepted, or encouraged]
Conversational Question: Was there anything specific the researcher did that made you feel this way [reference specifically how they felt from the previous question]?
Conversational Question: What about that interview made you feel unsure or uncomfortable? [If the response is minimal, follow up to ask what made them hesitate or hold back]
Conversational Question: Was there anything specific the researcher did that made you feel this way [reference specifically how they felt from the previous question]?
Section 3: Ideal experience
Conversational Question: Tell me about your ideal research experience with a researcher. What about that experience would make you feel most comfortable?
Section 4: AI Interview experience
Conversational Question: This interview is conducted through AI. Tell me how this experience has felt.
Conversational Question: Can you think of some situations where interacting with AI, like this, is preferable to talking to another human?
Conversational Question: Can you think of some situations where speaking directly with a person is preferable to AI? [make sure to understand what specific context, situations, or details drives their answer]
Section 5: Personifying the experience
Rating Question: We are considering personifying this AI moderated experience, for example adding a name, image, description, etc. How would you feel about that?
Very positively
Somewhat positively
Neutral
Somewhat negatively
Very negatively
Conversational Question: Tell me about why you answered that way.
Conversational Question: In what ways would sharing more human characteristics help you to open up and share? [follow up on specific factors that drive this answer]
Conversational Question: In what ways would sharing more human characteristics make it harder for you to open up and share? [follow up on specific factors that drive this answer]
Multiple Choice Question (Single select): Which option do you prefer for this type of interview?
The “interviewer” to incorporate more human elements
The current experience, where the 'interviewer' is simply labeled “AI interviewer”
Conversational Question: Please share more about why you gave that preference.