When to debrief

Generally, it is best to run debriefs as quickly as possible after an observed research session since insights start fading from participants' memories soon after the test is over.

When conducting user interviews, it's recommended to run a short debrief session after each interview. You can include the debrief in the calendar invite. For example, if an interview takes one hour, send the invite for 1.5 hours. When stakeholders accept the invite, it’ll leave their schedule clear for the debrief.

At the end of all research interviews, teams typically hold a synthesis session. It's a much longer meeting to discuss the data from all interviews and make key decisions about a project. Running debrief sessions before the final synthesis session makes it shorter, less overwhelming, and more effective.