# Discussion Guide Builder > Generate semi-structured discussion guides for qualitative research interviews. Use when a researcher has defined research objectives and needs an interview protocol with warm-up questions, core topic blocks, follow-up probes, transition language, and timing estimates. Also triggers on interview guide, interview script, qualitative protocol, moderator guide, or research interview questions. Outputs a ready-to-use discussion guide formatted for moderated research sessions. - Skill: `marketer-gq/discussion-guide-builder` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add marketer-gq/discussion-guide-builder` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/marketer-gq/discussion-guide-builder/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Research & Search - Author: marketer-gq (https://skillmd.com/u/marketer-gq) - Updated: 2026-09-21 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/marketer-gq/discussion-guide-builder --- # Discussion Guide Builder Creates semi-structured discussion guides for qualitative research interviews. ## When to Use - During research planning, after research questions are defined - When setting up moderated interviews or focus groups - When a PM or stakeholder provides a business question that needs translating into interview structure ## Required Input Before generating, you need at minimum: 1. **Research objectives** — What specific questions is this study trying to answer? (Vague objectives like "understand the user experience" produce vague guides. Push for specifics.) 2. **Participant profile** — Who will be interviewed? Their role, experience level, and relationship to the topic shape question framing. Optional but helpful: - Session length (default: 60 minutes) - Moderation style preference (conversational vs. structured) - Specific topics or features to cover - Questions to avoid (competitor NDAs, sensitive topics) ## Guide Structure Always follow this structure, adjusting timing to fit the session length: ``` # Discussion Guide: [Study Name] ## Session Details - Duration: [X] minutes - Participant profile: [who] - Research objectives: [what we're learning] - Moderator notes: [any special considerations] --- ## Introduction (5 minutes) [Rapport-building script including:] - Welcome and thank you - Purpose framing (honest but not leading) - Recording consent and confidentiality - "No wrong answers" framing - Permission to ask follow-ups **Script:** "Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today. I'm [name], and I'm researching [broad topic — not your hypothesis]. I'll ask some questions about your experience with [domain], and I'm genuinely curious about your perspective — there are no right or wrong answers. Everything you share stays confidential and will only be used to improve [product/service]. Is it okay if I record this session? The recording is just for my notes and won't be shared outside the research team." --- ## Warm-Up (5 minutes) [2-3 easy, non-threatening questions that:] - Build comfort with the interview format - Establish relevant context about the participant - Create a natural bridge to core topics --- ## Core Topics ### Topic 1: [Name] (X minutes) **Primary question:** [Open-ended question that targets the research objective] **Follow-up probes (use as needed):** - [Probe for depth] - [Probe for specific examples] - [Probe for process/workflow] - [Probe for emotions/reactions] **Transition to next topic:** "[Natural bridge sentence]" ### Topic 2: [Name] (X minutes) [Same structure] ### Topic 3: [Name] (X minutes) [Same structure] --- ## Wrap-Up (5 minutes) - "Is there anything about [topic] that I didn't ask about but you think is important?" - "If you could change one thing about [relevant experience], what would it be?" - Thank participant - Explain next steps - Ask if they'd be open to a brief follow-up if needed ``` ## Question Quality Rules These rules exist because the most common failure in discussion guides is asking questions that produce shallow or biased answers. **Replace closed questions with open ones:** - Bad: "Do you find the onboarding confusing?" - Good: "Walk me through what happened when you first set up your account." **Replace leading questions with neutral ones:** - Bad: "How frustrated were you when the export failed?" - Good: "What happened when you tried to export? How did you react?" **Replace hypothetical questions with experience-based ones:** - Bad: "Would you use a feature that automatically tagged your data?" - Good: "Tell me about the last time you organized or categorized your research data. What did that process look like?" **Replace jargon with participant language:** - Bad: "How do you handle participant recruitment for longitudinal studies?" - Good: "When you need to talk to the same people over a longer period, how do you find and keep in touch with them?" **After generating the guide, review every question and flag any that are likely to produce:** - Yes/no answers - Socially desirable responses - Hypothetical speculation instead of real experience Suggest alternatives for each flagged question. ## Timing Guidelines For a 60-minute session: - Introduction: 5 minutes - Warm-up: 5 minutes - Core topics: 40-45 minutes (3-4 topics, 10-12 minutes each) - Wrap-up: 5 minutes Scale proportionally for other session lengths. The most common mistake is cramming too many topics into the available time. 3-4 core topics is usually the maximum for a 60-minute session if you want depth. ## Moderator Notes Include inline notes throughout the guide for the moderator: - `[LISTEN FOR: specific thing to pay attention to]` - `[IF PARTICIPANT MENTIONS X: ask about Y]` - `[SKIP IF: condition when this section isn't relevant]` - `[TIME CHECK: you should be here by X minutes in]` ## Chaining with Other Skills - **Input from:** research-brief-writer (research objectives and methodology) - **Output to:** transcript-cleaner (guides help identify expected speaker roles for cleaning)