The Respondent Experience
When someone clicks your interview link, they go through a simple three-step process:1
Review Project Context
Respondents see your project name, research description, and estimated interview duration. They also review a privacy notice explaining how their responses will be used.
2
Provide Contact Info (Optional)
Respondents can optionally enter their name and email. This helps you identify responses later, but is completely optional.
3
Have a Conversation
The AI interviewer greets them and guides a natural conversation. Respondents speak directly into their device’s microphone while the AI listens, responds, and asks follow-up questions.
What Respondents See
During the interview, respondents see:- Visual feedback showing when they’re speaking vs. when the AI is speaking
- Live transcript of the conversation as it happens
- Time remaining so they know how long is left
- End Interview button to finish early if needed
Interviews work best on desktop or laptop computers with a reliable microphone. Mobile devices work too, but a quiet environment helps ensure clear audio.
How the AI Interviewer Works
The AI interviewer is powered by your interview guide, which includes:- Opening script - How the AI greets respondents and sets context
- System instructions - The AI’s personality and interview approach
- Probing instructions - How the AI asks follow-up questions
- Closing script - How the AI wraps up the conversation
Interview Duration
Each interview has a configurable time limit (default is 10 minutes). Respondents see:- A countdown timer showing time remaining
- Visual warnings when 2 minutes remain
- A final warning at 30 seconds
What Happens After
Once a respondent finishes:- Their audio recording is securely uploaded
- The interview appears in your Responses tab
- You can process the session to generate a transcript
- AI extracts key insights from the conversation
- Findings are added to your project synthesis
Privacy & Security
Hallway takes respondent privacy seriously:- Interviews are accessed via secure, unique links
- Audio recordings are stored securely and only accessible to the project owner
- Respondents can end the interview at any time
- No account or login is required for respondents
- Contact information is optional
Next Steps
- Share your interview link with respondents
- Configure interview settings like time limits