NSW Digital Service Toolkit - Activities and templates - Discussion guide template

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Liam

A discussion guide template for running user research interviews, designed to standardize question flow and ensure key topics are covered. It provides a suggested step-by-step structure: define research questions and assumptions, allocate time per session, list and order topic themes, insert opening and follow-up questions, add facilitator notes, include user activities and usability tasks, and add reflective prompts. The guide also includes timing guidance, a brief introduction script, and a recommendation to test clarity with a colleague before interviews.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatDOCX

Pages11

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Document guide

Before you start

Step 1: List out and order the main topics

Step 2: Insert your questions for each topic

Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities

Step 4: Write questions that invite reflection

Step 5: Test your discussion guide with a colleague

Step 6: Write a brief introduction script

Timing

What’s next?

Additional resources

NSW Digital Service Toolkit - Activities and templates Document snapshot HYPERLINK \l "_▐_Table_of_1" Jump to Table of Contents Document guide Running a user interview is much easier with a discussion guide to refer to. They provide the interviewer with a reminder of the key questions, and a structure to make sure nothing is missed during the interview. This template will help save time drafting a discussion guide specific to your team and project. It provides a suggested format that covers the basics of running a user interview. How it works Before you start decide on your research questions or identify your objective in running research interview sessions have your list of key research questions and assumptions set a time limit for each session that your interview needs to stay within (Generally between 30 and 90 minutes). Step 1: List out and order the main topics of your interview Group your questions by topics or themes that will make sense to your interview participants. List them out in a logical order, ideally one that will make the interview flow. Step 2: Insert your questions for each topic For each topic: Start with a question to introduce or open the discussion about the topic Add a note to the facilitator which explains the intent of the question Add and follow-up / more specific questions you might ask to learn more Following the same structure, add the rest of the questions for the topic Repeat the above for each topic. Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities. Explain and activities / tasks / usability tests that will form part of the research session. Make sure to add the links and any notes to the facilitator. Step 4: Write questions that invite reflection Reflective questions invite participants to reflect on the broad range of things covered in the interview and provide more considered answers. Step 5: Test your discussion guide with a colleague. This will help you to work out if any questions aren’t clear. You’ll also be able to re-order your questions if the interview doesn’t flow well. Step 6: Write a brief introduction script for the interview to give your participants a clear understanding of: the purpose of the interview how their information will be collected how you will be recording and using what they tell you in the interview. Tip: Once you’ve added your intro text, save a copy of the document which removes the instructions and tips from this document to leave just the intro script and discussion questions you’ve added to the template. This will make the document simpler to follow in your interview sessions. Timing Allocate a timing for each section in your Discussion guide. Work backwards from the time you’ve allocated for the session and ensure you can allocate enough time to your most important questions or activities. What’s next? Once your discussion guide is ready: Run your interviews Check in with your team after the first 1-2 interviews and fix any critical issues you’ve noticed in your discussion guide. Additional resources HYPERLINK "https://digital.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Discussion-guide-document-example.docx" \h Example discussion guide (Word) ▐ Table of Contents TOC \o "1-4" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322793" Introduction script PAGEREF _Toc72322793 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322794" Section 1: Introduction PAGEREF _Toc72322794 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322795" Our purpose PAGEREF _Toc72322795 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322796" Introducing yourself PAGEREF _Toc72322796 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322797" Introducing other people on the call PAGEREF _Toc72322797 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322798" Introducing the session PAGEREF _Toc72322798 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322799" Introduction to the topic PAGEREF _Toc72322799 \h 6 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322800" Starting the session PAGEREF _Toc72322800 \h 6 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322801" Questions PAGEREF _Toc72322801 \h 6 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc72322802

FAQs

What is the purpose of using this discussion guide template for user interviews?

It gives interviewers a structured set of key questions and a flow to ensure nothing important is missed, while also saving time drafting a guide for a team and project.

How should the discussion guide be structured before running interviews?

Decide research questions or objectives, define key questions and assumptions, set a time limit per session, then order main topics and prepare questions for each topic with facilitator notes and follow-ups.

What should be included after the main questions in the template?

Add instructions for any user activities or usability tests, include reflective questions for participants, write a brief introduction script covering purpose, collection, and recording, and test the guide with a colleague for clarity.

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Liam