Survey template

User interview script (Mom Test)

Good discovery isn't about pitching your idea — it's about their life. This script keeps every question grounded in what people have actually done, so you don't walk away with false validation.

Best for: Founders and researchers doing problem-discovery and customer interviews.

The questions

1. 01Walk me through the last time you ran into this problem.Long textSpecific past episode > general opinion.
2. 02How did you handle it? What tools or steps did you use?Long text
3. 03What was the most frustrating part of that?Long text
4. 04How often does this come up for you?Single selectDaily / Weekly / Monthly / Rarely — frequency reveals real pain.
5. 05What have you tried to fix it, and why didn't it stick?Long text
6. 06If you've paid for anything to help with this, what was it?Short textExisting spend is the strongest signal that the problem is real.
7. 07Who else on your team deals with this?Short text

How to run it well

• Never describe your idea before asking these — you'll bias every answer.
• Chase specifics: 'tell me about the last time' instead of 'do you usually'.
• Silence is your friend — let people fill it; that's where the real answer lives.
• Look for emotion and existing workarounds; those mark problems worth solving.

FAQ

Why ask about the past instead of the future?

People are terrible at predicting what they'll do or pay, but reliable about what they've already done. The Mom Test builds every question on real history.

Can I run a Mom Test script as a form instead of a live call?

Yes — async written responses scale better and remove interviewer bias. Enform's branching keeps it conversational so answers stay rich.

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