Launch an interview

This notebook provides sample EDSL code for simulating qualitative research interviews. In a series of steps we construct an AI agent representing a qualitative researcher and launch an interview with specified topics and interview subjects.

Please also see examples of the Conversation module which automates the methods used below to simulate a conversation with multiple agents:

EDSL is an open-source library for simulating surveys, experiments and other research with AI agents and large language models. Before running the code below, please ensure that you have installed the EDSL library and either activated remote inference from your Coop account or stored API keys for the language models that you want to use with EDSL. Please also see our documentation page for tips and tutorials on getting started using EDSL.

[1]:

from edsl import QuestionFreeText, Agent, Scenario, Model

import textwrap
from rich import print

EDSL works with many popular language models (learn more about using models). Here we select one to use in running in our survey:

[2]:

model = Model("gpt-4o")

Here we create methods for constructing agents representing a researcher and subject, and conducting an interview in the form of a survey that we can observe. (Learn more about designing agents and running surveys).

[3]:

def construct_subject(name, traits={}):
    return Agent(name=name, traits=traits)


def construct_researcher(product, topics):
    background = textwrap.dedent(
        f"""\
    You are an expert qualitative researcher. You are researching this product: {product}.
    You are interested in conducting interviews to learn people's views on the following topics relating
    to the product: {topics}."""
    )

    instruction = textwrap.dedent(
        """\
    You know to ask questions that are appropriate to the age and experience of an interview subject.
    You know to not ask questions that an interview subject would not be able to answer,
    e.g., if they are a young child, they probably will not be able to answer many questions about prices.
    You ask excellent follow-up questions.
    """
    )
    return Agent(traits={"background": background}, instruction=instruction)


def get_next_question(subject, researcher, dialog_so_far):
    scenario = Scenario(
        {"subject": str(subject.traits), "dialog_so_far": dialog_so_far}
    )
    meta_q = QuestionFreeText(
        question_name="next_question",
        question_text="""
        These are the biographic details of the interview subject: {{ subject }}
        This is your current dialog with the interview subject: {{ dialog_so_far }}
        What question you would ask the interview subject next?
        """,
    )
    question_text = (
        meta_q.by(model)
        .by(researcher)
        .by(scenario)
        .run()
        .select("next_question")
        .first()
    )
    return question_text


def get_response_to_question(question_text, subject, dialog_so_far):
    q_to_subject = QuestionFreeText(
        question_name="question",
        question_text=f"""
        This is your current dialog with the interview subject: {dialog_so_far}.
        You are now being asked:"""
        + question_text,
    )
    response = q_to_subject.by(model).by(subject).run().select("question").first()
    return response


def ask_question(subject, researcher, dialog_so_far):
    question_text = get_next_question(subject, researcher, dialog_so_far)
    response = get_response_to_question(question_text, subject, dialog_so_far)
    return {"question": question_text, "response": response}


def dialog_to_string(d):
    return "\n".join(
        [f"Question: {d['question']}\nResponse: {d['response']}" for d in d]
    )

[4]:

subject = construct_subject(name="Alice", traits={"gender": "female", "age": 12})
researcher = construct_researcher(product="cassette tapes", topics="technology, music")
result = ask_question(subject, researcher, "")
print(result)

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:00:14)

Job UUID	fc519ef9-372a-433e-9963-a5d3b444e2a3
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/fc519ef9-372a-433e-9963-a5d3b444e2a3
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	b100297d-1d02-4808-90db-d7b18c0629df
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/b100297d-1d02-4808-90db-d7b18c0629df

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/b100297d-1d02-4808-90db-d7b18c0629df

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:00:24)

Job UUID	0589b8f0-fe5c-4a6e-9fa6-e9c4b101c650
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/0589b8f0-fe5c-4a6e-9fa6-e9c4b101c650
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	9bed942a-e0c2-4975-b14d-02af1985213b
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/9bed942a-e0c2-4975-b14d-02af1985213b

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/9bed942a-e0c2-4975-b14d-02af1985213b

{
    'question': 'What kind of music do you like to listen to, and have you ever listened to it on a cassette 
tape?',
    'response': "I really like pop music and sometimes I listen to some cool indie stuff too. I think it's fun and 
makes me want to dance! As for cassettes, I've never actually listened to music on a cassette tape before. I 
usually just use my phone or listen on Spotify. My parents told me about cassettes, though, and how they had to 
rewind them with a pencil sometimes. It sounds kind of funny!"
}

[5]:

dialog_so_far = []
for i in range(5):
    result = ask_question(subject, researcher, dialog_to_string(dialog_so_far))
    print(result)
    dialog_so_far.append(result)
print(dialog_so_far)

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:00:33)

Job UUID	24a9812e-db4c-40c6-ab1d-53984c53b5b7
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/24a9812e-db4c-40c6-ab1d-53984c53b5b7
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	658aebb1-02ac-4e09-831b-78347a6f5d51
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/658aebb1-02ac-4e09-831b-78347a6f5d51

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/658aebb1-02ac-4e09-831b-78347a6f5d51

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:00:42)

Job UUID	0c851ebf-54fc-436f-8a1e-d823a63a0dcf
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/0c851ebf-54fc-436f-8a1e-d823a63a0dcf
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	10bc0ce8-73d4-485f-aebb-0a557a034254
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/10bc0ce8-73d4-485f-aebb-0a557a034254

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/10bc0ce8-73d4-485f-aebb-0a557a034254

{
    'question': 'What kind of music do you like to listen to, and have you ever listened to it on a cassette 
tape?',
    'response': "I really like pop music and sometimes I listen to some cool indie stuff too. I think it's fun and 
makes me want to dance! As for cassettes, I've never actually listened to music on a cassette tape before. I 
usually just use my phone or listen on Spotify. My parents told me about cassettes, though, and how they had to 
rewind them with a pencil sometimes. It sounds kind of funny!"
}

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:00:52)

Job UUID	c2ac5d8f-677d-45b3-932b-dcdcd9120aa1
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/c2ac5d8f-677d-45b3-932b-dcdcd9120aa1
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	86191e77-effd-43cc-b662-640d5d85957e
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/86191e77-effd-43cc-b662-640d5d85957e

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/86191e77-effd-43cc-b662-640d5d85957e

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:01:02)

Job UUID	0a2a1188-0f0d-47bd-807e-716972d59064
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/0a2a1188-0f0d-47bd-807e-716972d59064
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	383de248-d728-46e3-8963-db94cf03aca7
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/383de248-d728-46e3-8963-db94cf03aca7

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/383de248-d728-46e3-8963-db94cf03aca7

{
    'question': "That's interesting! Since you've heard about cassette tapes from your parents, do you think you 
would ever want to try listening to music on one? What do you think the experience might be like compared to using 
your phone or Spotify?",
    'response': "I think it would be pretty cool to try listening to music on a cassette tape at least once! It 
seems like it would be a totally different experience from using my phone or Spotify. With a cassette, you can't 
just skip to the next song with a tap, so you'd have to listen to the whole album or mix, which might be fun 
because you could discover new favorite songs that way. Plus, the idea of using a pencil to rewind the tape sounds 
kind of like a fun little challenge. It might feel more special and hands-on compared to just tapping a screen. I 
bet the sound might be different too, maybe a bit more old-school or warm, which could be interesting to hear!"
}

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:01:13)

Job UUID	52f44c6a-70e4-45db-8719-c805b3a1dce6
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/52f44c6a-70e4-45db-8719-c805b3a1dce6
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	d16d7f15-41c5-4a25-81ee-7be166b8dbb3
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/d16d7f15-41c5-4a25-81ee-7be166b8dbb3

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/d16d7f15-41c5-4a25-81ee-7be166b8dbb3

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:01:23)

Job UUID	9dd86d6d-d77f-40b8-b348-4bb87de2d6d0
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/9dd86d6d-d77f-40b8-b348-4bb87de2d6d0
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	b58ec34a-7233-496a-9ab4-13c8af8559b6
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/b58ec34a-7233-496a-9ab4-13c8af8559b6

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/b58ec34a-7233-496a-9ab4-13c8af8559b6

{
    'question': 'You mentioned that using a pencil to rewind the tape sounds like a fun challenge. Do you think 
having more hands-on interactions with music, like with cassette tapes, could change the way you enjoy music or 
make it feel more special?',
    'response': "Yeah, I think having more hands-on interactions with music could definitely make it feel more 
special! When you have to do something like rewind a tape with a pencil, it makes you pay more attention to what 
you're listening to. It's not just about pressing play and letting it go in the background. Plus, it might make you
appreciate the music more because you have to work a little to hear it. It sounds like it would be more of an 
experience, kind of like going to a concert where you really focus on the music and enjoy every part of it. I think
it could make listening to music feel more personal and memorable!"
}

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:01:37)

Job UUID	1a7b069d-f6c2-48d8-a821-c141bf25cd7f
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/1a7b069d-f6c2-48d8-a821-c141bf25cd7f
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	b3895f39-6f74-4ae0-8ed1-6c3f9c62b7e0
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/b3895f39-6f74-4ae0-8ed1-6c3f9c62b7e0

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/b3895f39-6f74-4ae0-8ed1-6c3f9c62b7e0

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:01:46)

Job UUID	0059cdd7-c785-4d67-b868-ec125b6bbb7c
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/0059cdd7-c785-4d67-b868-ec125b6bbb7c
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	20d8e28e-d5c0-4eee-8112-934394507fd2
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/20d8e28e-d5c0-4eee-8112-934394507fd2

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/20d8e28e-d5c0-4eee-8112-934394507fd2

{
    'question': "Since you're interested in the hands-on aspect of cassette tapes and how it might make music feel 
more personal, I'm curious: Do you think having a physical collection of music, like a bunch of cassette tapes, 
would be exciting for you? How would owning physical copies of your favorite albums or songs change the way you 
think about or connect with your music?",
    'response': 'I think having a physical collection of music, like a bunch of cassette tapes, would be super 
exciting! It would be like having a little treasure chest of all my favorite songs and albums. I think owning 
physical copies would make me feel more connected to the music because I could actually hold it in my hands and see
the album art up close. Plus, it would be fun to organize them and maybe even show them off to my friends. Having a
collection would probably make me appreciate my favorite songs even more because it would be something I chose to 
keep and take care of. It might feel like I have my own little music library, and each tape could have its own 
story or memory attached to it. I think it would make listening to music feel more special and meaningful!'
}

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:01:56)

Job UUID	145cd18f-95c2-4b36-ad69-c5de9f307d73
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/145cd18f-95c2-4b36-ad69-c5de9f307d73
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	a0ee3b24-208b-4b56-8d24-e1203211a0b5
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/a0ee3b24-208b-4b56-8d24-e1203211a0b5

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/a0ee3b24-208b-4b56-8d24-e1203211a0b5

▼ Job Status (2025-03-03 12:02:05)

Job UUID	bd13e70c-7c66-408d-93a0-889e51f373da
Progress Bar URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/bd13e70c-7c66-408d-93a0-889e51f373da
Exceptions Report URL	None
Results UUID	c294183c-c302-4391-a766-d52190e8fc05
Results URL	https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/c294183c-c302-4391-a766-d52190e8fc05

✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/c294183c-c302-4391-a766-d52190e8fc05

{
    'question': "You've shared some great thoughts on how cassette tapes could make music more personal and 
meaningful. I'm curious, have you ever created your own playlists or mixtapes on your phone or Spotify? If so, how 
do you think that experience compares to what it might be like to make a mixtape on a cassette?",
    'response': "Yeah, I've definitely made my own playlists on my phone and Spotify! It's really fun to pick out 
all my favorite songs and put them together, especially when I can choose a theme or mood for the playlist. I like 
that I can add or remove songs anytime and share them with my friends really easily.\n\nI think making a mixtape on
a cassette would be a lot different, though. It seems like it would take more time and planning because you'd have 
to record each song in order and make sure everything fits just right. You can't just drag and drop like on a 
phone! I think it would feel more like a creative project, almost like making a custom gift for someone. Plus, 
since cassettes are physical, it would be cool to decorate the tape or case with drawings or stickers to make it 
even more personal. It sounds like it would be a really fun and special way to share music with someone!"
}

[
{
'question': 'What kind of music do you like to listen to, and have you ever listened to it on a cassette
tape?',
'response': "I really like pop music and sometimes I listen to some cool indie stuff too. I think it's fun
and makes me want to dance! As for cassettes, I've never actually listened to music on a cassette tape before. I
usually just use my phone or listen on Spotify. My parents told me about cassettes, though, and how they had to
rewind them with a pencil sometimes. It sounds kind of funny!"
},
{
'question': "That's interesting! Since you've heard about cassette tapes from your parents, do you think
you would ever want to try listening to music on one? What do you think the experience might be like compared to
using your phone or Spotify?",
'response': "I think it would be pretty cool to try listening to music on a cassette tape at least once! It
seems like it would be a totally different experience from using my phone or Spotify. With a cassette, you can't
just skip to the next song with a tap, so you'd have to listen to the whole album or mix, which might be fun
because you could discover new favorite songs that way. Plus, the idea of using a pencil to rewind the tape sounds
kind of like a fun little challenge. It might feel more special and hands-on compared to just tapping a screen. I
bet the sound might be different too, maybe a bit more old-school or warm, which could be interesting to hear!"
},
{
'question': 'You mentioned that using a pencil to rewind the tape sounds like a fun challenge. Do you think
having more hands-on interactions with music, like with cassette tapes, could change the way you enjoy music or
make it feel more special?',
'response': "Yeah, I think having more hands-on interactions with music could definitely make it feel more
special! When you have to do something like rewind a tape with a pencil, it makes you pay more attention to what
you're listening to. It's not just about pressing play and letting it go in the background. Plus, it might make you
appreciate the music more because you have to work a little to hear it. It sounds like it would be more of an
experience, kind of like going to a concert where you really focus on the music and enjoy every part of it. I think
it could make listening to music feel more personal and memorable!"
},
{
'question': "Since you're interested in the hands-on aspect of cassette tapes and how it might make music
feel more personal, I'm curious: Do you think having a physical collection of music, like a bunch of cassette
tapes, would be exciting for you? How would owning physical copies of your favorite albums or songs change the way
you think about or connect with your music?",
'response': 'I think having a physical collection of music, like a bunch of cassette tapes, would be super
exciting! It would be like having a little treasure chest of all my favorite songs and albums. I think owning
physical copies would make me feel more connected to the music because I could actually hold it in my hands and see
the album art up close. Plus, it would be fun to organize them and maybe even show them off to my friends. Having a
collection would probably make me appreciate my favorite songs even more because it would be something I chose to
keep and take care of. It might feel like I have my own little music library, and each tape could have its own
story or memory attached to it. I think it would make listening to music feel more special and meaningful!'
},
{
'question': "You've shared some great thoughts on how cassette tapes could make music more personal and
meaningful. I'm curious, have you ever created your own playlists or mixtapes on your phone or Spotify? If so, how
do you think that experience compares to what it might be like to make a mixtape on a cassette?",
'response': "Yeah, I've definitely made my own playlists on my phone and Spotify! It's really fun to pick
out all my favorite songs and put them together, especially when I can choose a theme or mood for the playlist. I
like that I can add or remove songs anytime and share them with my friends really easily.\n\nI think making a
mixtape on a cassette would be a lot different, though. It seems like it would take more time and planning because
you'd have to record each song in order and make sure everything fits just right. You can't just drag and drop like
on a phone! I think it would feel more like a creative project, almost like making a custom gift for someone. Plus,
since cassettes are physical, it would be cool to decorate the tape or case with drawings or stickers to make it
even more personal. It sounds like it would be a really fun and special way to share music with someone!"
}
]