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Interview Guide Questions

This article describes how to ask questions that get the most out of your interview, moving your guide, and adding images and videos.

Robert Hess avatar
Written by Robert Hess
Updated over 5 months ago

Conversational questions

Writing good guide questions for AI is similar to writing good questions for a human moderator. Because you can't be in the room, you'll need to do a little extra work to be more explicit, offer more targeted instructions, and skip the shorthand.

Here are a few tips that should apply to any discussion guide (AI or human):

  1. If you want open-ended answers, ask open-ended questions. Too often, people write something like 'Do you like the product?' to which participants will say 'yes.' Instead, use open phrasing like 'Tell me about your experience with...' or 'What motivates you to...'

  2. Frame each question as a question. Sounds obvious, but it's worth remembering that AI will follow your guidance. If you say 'Check out the video.' then participants will be left wondering how they are supposed to respond.

  3. Don't shove too much into each question. It's ok to occasionally include a multi-pronged question, like 'Tell me about how you meal prep. What's your process? What's important to you?' The moderator will generally do a good job making sure the participants answer each of those. However, shoving a list of 6 different questions into a single question box will likely not result in participants hearing and answering all 6.


If you're moving your existing interview guide questions to an Outset guide

Many researchers will start by writing out their standard interview guide. Then, the process of turning it into a guide on Outset is straight forward.

The most important difference is that Outset guides have a flat structure. Human-moderated discussion guides often have indented bullet after indented bullet, to signify a kind of shorthand, probing-logic. Outset guides only have one set of questions.

When moving your guide to Outset, those indented bullets should either be...

  1. Removed in lieu of natural AI probing

  2. Added to your instructions for AI (see 'Instructions for AI' section below)

  3. Split out into separate, independent questions (particularly when they are critical and/or unrelated to the first question)


Closed-ended questions

In addition to the conversational abilities, Outset interviews can pose close ended questions. These include:

  • Single select (participants can choose one option)

  • Multi-select (participants can choose any number of options)

  • Number input (participants may add a number)

The first two types may have options randomized or pre-determined.

Stimulus

Researchers may add stimulus to the interview guide. Outset supports image files, video files, gif files, as well as adding a URL for the participant to visit.

Adding stimulus

You can add stimulus by hitting the plus button under any question. When you add a file, it will then be accessible in any other question throughout all guides within the project.

Once you add or see the stimulus you want, you can click on the thumbnail to add to the question.

Adding URL

You can direct participants to a URL that will open in a new tab. This will be presented to participants as a simple button.

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